[Continuous glucose monitoring system, as a valuable tool in the care of children and adolescents with diabetes mellitus].
BACKGROUND
Good metabolic control of diabetic patients is mainly based on the results of self measured blood glucose levels. Important excursions of blood glucose may, however, be hidden in the usual case of 4-5 daily determinations. The aim of this paper was to give detailed information about this new diagnostic tool and to report the first Hungarian pediatric experiences with continuous glucose monitoring.


METHODS
Continuous glucose monitoring system (Mini-Med) is able to monitor the changes of tissue glucose levels for up to 72 hours by measuring glucose concentration via a s.c. canula every 5 minutes. In its present form the results of continuous glucose monitoring cannot be observed real time by the patient, it provides useful information retrospectively mainly for the doctor.


RESULTS
The sensor detected unexpectedly high fluctuation of glucose levels in several patients. It was possible to distinguish between nighttime hypoglycaemia (Somogyi-effect) or dawn phenomenon-induced morning hyperglycaemiae by the use of continuous glucose monitoring. Fever may influence peripheral circulation representing a limitation in the use (or evaluation) of continuous tissue glucose monitoring. The authors found good correlation between continuous glucose monitoring and self blood glucose monitoring results. The best correlation was observed in the low blood glucose range.


CONCLUSIONS
The continuous glucose monitoring results provide useful information for the diabetologist in order to modify insulin treatment. Continuous glucose monitoring-based changes in insulin treatment are reported to result in better long term metabolic control. Continuous glucose monitoring in the near future will obviously play a primary role in insulin pump therapy where it will provide glucose result for the pump.
Tóth-Heyn
Péter
P
Semmelweis Egyetem, Altalános Orvostudományi Kar, I. Gyermekklinika, Budapest.
Körner
Anna
A
Madácsy
László
L
D000293:Adolescent; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D015190:Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation; D002648:Child; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary; D008297:Male
D001786:Blood Glucose