ESPE Abstracts

Background: Insulin remains the mainstay treatment for diabetes type 1(T1D), more recently several technological advances have been introduced to assist with the treatment. Continuous Subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) devices and continues glycose monitors (CGM) have gained a lot of popularity and are thought to help patients achieve better glycaemic control. HbA1c levels can be used to assess glycaemic control. There are conflicting reports on whether those devises improve quality of life (QoL). Cyprus seems to follow the worldwide increase in incidence of T1D but not many studies investigating QoL in children with T1D have been performed.

Methods: A cross-sectional study included 62 paediatric patients with T1D. Participants were divided in to three groups. Children treated with multiple daily injections (MDI n=27) of insulin, children utilizing CGM as adjutant to MDI (MDI/CGM n=25) and children treated with sensor augmented continues subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII/CGM n=15). We used the Paediatric Quality of Life inventory 3.0 Diabetes module to assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children with diabetes.

Results: Carbohydrate counting was correlated with better HbA1c (7.4 ± 0.95 vs 8.48 ±1.85), (F (1,50) = [7.644], P=0.008). Females had worse HBA1c levels (HbA1c 7,98±1.46) than males (HbA1c 7.33 ±1.00); t(65)=-2.111, P=0.039 and reported worse overall HRQoL.(F (58,1)=3.984, P=0.05. Children using CGM were experiencing less diabetes related symptoms (65.02 ±13.87 vs 56.14 ±14.50; t (46) = -2.164, P= 0.036). Participants using CSII/CGM had more difficulties sleeping statistically significant compared to MDI/CGM group (mean 56.25 ±33.92 vs mean 81.52±22.88, P= 0.054)

Conclusion: A proper use of carbohydrate counting can assist children without CGM or CSII to improve glycaemic control. MDI/CGM group reports less diabetes related symptoms which subsequently enhance QoL. Special attentions need to be given to female patients. Further studies with larger sample are necessary to accurately assess HRQoL in children on insulin pumps as number of participants was very small compared to participants in the other groups.