title: The relationship between self-care and metabolic control in children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
abstract: To assess the relationship between insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) self-care management and metabolic control in school-aged children, 21 children ages 10 to 14 years with a duration of IDDM of 5.5 years (range 1 to 13 years) were studied. Self-care was defined as the activities that children with IDDM initiate and perform on their own in the management of their disease. Self-care activity was assessed by a revised Self-Care Questionnaire (SCQ), and metabolic control was determined by HbA1c levels obtained at the same time the SCQ was completed. A higher level of self-care management (higher SCQ) was hypothesized to correlate with better metabolic control (lower HbA1c). Regression analysis of SCQ and HbA1c supported the expected inverse relationship but not at a significant level. The only significant predictors of self-care activity and metabolic control were experience at a specialized camp for children with diabetes and race, with Caucasian children scoring higher in self-care and having lower HbA1c values than African American children.
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Saucier
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Clark
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012648:Self Care / Q000592:standards*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin