Assessment of the metabolic control in children with type 1 diabetes

Introduction
The increase in morbidity of type 1 diabetes (T1D) is observed in Poland and worldwide, particularly among the youngest patients. To prevent chronic hyperglycemia’s complications, it is advised to maintain best possible metabolic control from the time of diagnosis of the disease.

Aim
The purpose of this research is to evaluate adherence to medical recommendations in regard to appropriate metabolic control of T1D in children, based on Polish Diabetes Association (PTD) 2019 criteria.

Material and methods
The medical records of 388 patients with T1D hospitalized in our department between June 2018 and July 2019 were analyzed. Two hundred patients hospitalized for routine control tests were enrolled in the study. The patients were evaluated with respect to meeting the criteria for metabolic control recommended by PTD 2019 including gender, duration of disease and treatment technique. The relation between the percentage of HbA1c and age, duration of the disease and lipid metabolism was studied.

Results
In the assessed group 7% of patients met all PTD’s criteria of metabolic control. There was a statistically significant difference in percentage of HbA1c in serum between girls and boys (12.64% vs. 26.55%, p = 0.02). The trend was observed between patients with T1D lasting less than or equal 3 years and those with long-standing disease (28.72% vs. 13.21%, p = 0.007). A significant, positive correlation was demonstrated between percentage of HbA1c and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) level (r = 0.244), triglyceride (TG) level (r = 0.234) and duration of the disease (r = 0.278).

Conclusions
A low percentage of patients is able to achieve all aims stated by the PTD.