Current aspects of glycemic control in young children with diabetes mellitus

Due to growth of prevalence of diabetes mellitus type 1 (DM 1) among young children new ISPAD (International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes) Consensus on Managing diabetes in preschool children was developed. Glycosylated hemoglobin A1c level for preschool children is recommended to keep below 7.5%. Basic causes of non-reaching of glycemic goals are considered unpredictability of meals and physical activity in young children, fear of parents in front of hypoglycemia, glycemic variability. Reaching the goals is supported by positive attitude to self-control procedures, education of patients’ relatives taking into account the age of a child, precise glycemic control from the first months of disease. For satisfactory glycemic control it is recommended to measure glycaemia 7-10 times per day; to use only the most precise glucometers; to teach patient family members correct exploitation of glucometer. Grownups should encourage self-dependence of a child, but all of such manipulations should be controlled by grownups. In the article own data are given - results of 30 patients questionnaire on glycosylated hemoglobin level, age when they stated to use glucometer themselves, frequency of glycaemia measurements.

diabetes mellitus, preschool children, glycemic control