Blood glucose control and compliance of diabetic children.

AIM OF STUDY Non-compliance is an important factor hindering good control in diabetics. The aim of this study was to identify areas of poor compliance with the diabetes management regimen in the children attending our clinic. DESIGN A questionnaire was administered to 57 patients who attend the Paediatric Diabetes Clinic. It was designed to elicit socio-demographic data and information about the diabetic regimen. Prior to the administration of the questionnaire, patients were classified as being well, satisfactorily or poorly controlled, based on their average glycosylated Haemoglobin results over the past year. RESULTS All the patients used home blood glucose monitoring (HBGM)-79% of the poorly controlled children tested twice daily or less whereas 53% of the well controlled children tested three times or more daily. The timing of injections was frequently incorrect. 42% of all patients had been admitted to hospital after diagnosis and more than 60% of them never tested their blood glucose in relation to exercise. The patients' knowledge about their disease was generally good. The mean age of the poorly controlled group was almost 19 months older than that of the well controlled group. Poorly controlled children had also had diabetes for longer and they lived significantly further from the hospital. A higher percentage of poorly controlled patients were in charge of their own treatment while those in the well controlled group were less reliant on doctors for insulin dose adjustments.