Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.20471/acc.2021.60.04.07

Continuous Glucose Monitoring and Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Control in Child, Adolescent and Young Adult Population – Arguments for Its Use and Effects

Karla Rubelj ; Department of Pediatrics, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia
Gordana Stipančić ; Department of Pediatrics, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia; Department of Pediatrics, School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Lavinia La Grasta Sabolić ; Department of Pediatrics, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia
Marija Požgaj Šepec ; Department of Pediatrics, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

Sensors for continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in intercellular fluid are used
as a contemporary method to achieve better control in type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM), which is best
shown through lower glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels.The aim of this study was to assess how
many of our patients used CGM (parents were solely financing all the cost of the device) and what was
the effect of CGM on the control of DM. Data were retrospectively collected from medical records of
patients actively treated at the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetology, Pulmonology and Allergology,
Department of Pediatrics, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center. The t-test was used for independent
samples to compare the mean levels of HbA1c before and after the inclusion of CGM.
CGM was used by 81 (32.1%) of our patients with type 1 DM, of which 43 met the inclusion criteria.
The mean HbA1c level 6 months before the introduction of CGM was 8.2%±1.9 and after 12 months
of CGM use it was 7.4%±1.2, which was a statistically significant improvement (p=0.026). Furthermore,
our results demonstrated that the greatest improvement in HbA1c level was recorded in the
groups of young adults (18-25 years) and youngest children (<12 years). We confirmed the efficacy of
CGM in achieving better control of type 1 DM by significantly improving HbA1c levels in a population
of highly motivated patients.

Keywords

Type 1 diabetes mellitus; Continuous glucose monitoring; Children; Adolescents

Hrčak ID:

275442

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/275442

Publication date:

1.12.2021.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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