Blood sugar control in children and young diabetics during an educational summer camp

The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of educative summer camp on the glycemic control in two different age-groups of young diabetic patients. METHODS: 54 patients (36 M, 18 F, age 10-27 years, duration of diabetes 2-19 years), treated with 0.81 +/- 0.2 UI/kg/day of insulin and with HbA1c mean levels of 8.25 +/- 1.35 g% were followed by an equip of 8 medical doctors, 4 nurses and 1 dietician for a week during an educative summer camp. RESULTS: 34 children, group 1 (20 M, 14 F, 10-14 years aged, mean duration of the disease 4.52 years, range 2-12 years) and 20 young adults, group 2 (16 M, 4 F, age 16-27 years, mean duration 10.21 years, range 2-19 years) were evaluated. Insulin doses and HbA1c levels were 0.82 +/- 0.21 UI/kg/day vs 0.80 +/- 0.22 U/kg/day and 9.54 +/- 1.5% vs 7.6 +/- 0.6%, p < 0.02 in group 1 and 2 respectively. Glycemic levels at 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. were significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2 (180 +/- 87 mg% vs 219 +/- 77 mg%, p < 0.05 and 164 +/- 84 mg% vs 201 +/- 81 mg%, p < 0.05). Hypoglycemic/patient/episodes were 1.82 vs 0.72, p < 0.05 in group 1 and group 2 respectively. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Glycemic control was unsatisfactory in both groups and it was significantly worse in the group of youngs, though in this group HbA1c level was significantly lower. 2. The risk of hypoglycemia was significantly higher in group 1, though in this group insulin doses were significantly decreased.