The rate of improvement in metabolic control in children with diabetes mellitus type 1 on insulin glargine depends on age.
BACKGROUND
To evaluate the changes in the glycemic profile and metabolic control after introducing glargine in children with DMT1 in a one-year follow up.


METHODS
70 children (36 boys) at the average age of 12.03+/-2.50 with the mean diabetes duration of 3.35+/-2.19 years were observed. Glargine was substituted for NPH in children treated with multiple daily injections.


RESULTS
The analysis showed the differences in the dynamics of changes in mean glycemia based on home blood glucose monitoring and HbA1c between prepubertal children (Group 1) and teenagers (Group 2). A significant reduction in mean glycemia from baseline to 12 months was observed at all chosen points in Group 2: fasting glycemia (125+/-27 mg/dl vs 117+/-17 mg/dl,p<0.05), bedtime glycemia (128+/-24 mg/dl vs. 117+/-20 mg/dl,p=0.001) and 3 a.m. glycemia (143+/-47 mg/dl vs. 90+/-25 mg/dl,p<0.001). A significant decrease in mean glycemia in Group 1 was observed from the beginning of treatment only at bedtime (0-12 months:129+/-27 mg/dl vs. 112+/-25 mg/dl,p=0.001) and at 3 am with the delay (6-12 months:122+/-36 mg/dl vs. 90+/-22 mg/dl,p<0.05). A significant improvement in HbA1c between baseline and 12 months was observed in both groups but with different dynamics of changes: 6.91+/-0.77% vs. 6.59+/-0.65% (p<0.05) and 7.44+/-1.26% vs. 7.18+/-1.58% (p=0.001) respectively in the groups. A trend towards decreasing the number of hypoglycemic episodes and no changes in BMI and insulin requirement were noted.


CONCLUSIONS
Introduction of glargine provides diabetic children with a better stabilization of the daily glycemic profile even in the cases of baseline good metabolic control. The rate of reaching the target in a long-term observation depends on age. A slower reduction of glycemia observed in smaller subjects suggests a great individuality in the regimen of diabetic children.
The Department of Pediatric, Endocrinology & Diabetes, The Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland. grazyna.d@mp.pl
G
G
Deja
P
P
Jarosz-Chobot
J
J
Polanska
D000293:Adolescent; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000032:analysis*; D007328:Insulin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000069036:Insulin Glargine; D049528:Insulin, Long-Acting; D008297:Male; D011627:Puberty / Q000097:blood*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D000069036:Insulin Glargine; D049528:Insulin, Long-Acting; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human