ESPE Abstracts

Background: Metabolic control is important in prevention and delay of microvascular and macrovascular complications of type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM). Psychological disorders and, a lack of motivation may negatively affect metabolic control. Therefore, motivational and psychological support can be needed as a part of medical treatment to improve metabolic control in patients with type 1 DM.

Objective and hypotheses: To investigate the impact of reward-based motivation on metabolic control in type 1 DM children.

Method: 44 type 1 DM patients with a mean age of 12.3±2.8 years and mean diabetes duration of 4.7±2.7 years were enrolled in the study. Before the study, patients were informed that three patients who will have the best metabolic control at the end of 1 year would be rewarded. Number of control visits and hypoglycemic episodes, daily insulin requirement and mean HbA1c values were compared before and one year after study.

Results: During the study period a statistically significant decrease in the mean HbA1c value, number of hypoglycemic attacks and daily insulin requirement were determined (P<0.05). Decrease in the mean HbA1c value was significant in both sexes and especially in the pubertal group (P<0.05). It was observed that the patients had more frequent control visits during the motivation study. The positive impact of motivation has been maintained throughout 6 months after completion of the study.

Conclusion: This study showed that reward-based motivation might provide significant improvement in the metabolic control in type 1 DM children with a more evident effect seen in the pubertal group.