The Effects of Blood Glucose Testing Versus Urine Sugar Testing on the Metabolic Control of Insulin-Dependent Diabetic Children
- Robert M Carney, Ph.D.,
- Kay Schechter, M.S.W.,
- Mari Homa, R.N.,
- Lucy Levandoski, P.A.,
- Neil White, M.D. and
- Julio Santiago, M.D.
- Departments of Psychiatry and Metabolism, Washington University School of Medicine; the Jewish Hospital of St. Louis; and the Children's Hospital of St. Louis Missouri
- Address reprint requests to Robert M. Carney, Ph.D., Department of Psychiatry, Jewish Hospital of St. Louis, 216 S. Kingshighway Boulevard, St. Louis, Missouri 63110.
Abstract
Glycosylated hemoglobin A1c was measured in 43 insulin-dependent diabetic children before and after training in blood glucose testing. These measurements were compared with those obtained from a group of matched controls who tested urine sugars for the same period. Mean HbA1c measurements for the blood glucose testing group were significantly improved at 6 mo after training in blood glucose testing, and were significantly lower than those measured in the urine sugar testing group. However, HbA1c levels in the blood glucose testing group were well above levels for nondiabetic persons, and were generally higher than those reported for adult insulin-dependent diabetic persons following training in blood glucose testing. Explanations for this difference were considered. It was noted that 81% of the trained children accepted and continued to use blood glucose testing for at least 9 mo after training.
- Copyright © 1983 by the American Diabetes Association
