title: Analysis of the impact of environmental and social factors, with a particular emphasis on education, on the level of metabolic control in type 1 diabetes in children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Type 1 diabetes is a chronic, incurable childhood disease. Chronically uncontrolled diabetes is associated with eye, kidney, nerve, heart and blood vessel damage and function impairment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of various social and environmental factors, with a particular emphasis on education, on the level of metabolic control in diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The survey research was conducted in 102 children aged 0-18 years, diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Based on the HbA(1c ) level, patients were divided into: group A (63 patients with fairly well and moderately controlled type 1 diabetes mellitus) and group B (39 patients with metabolically uncontrolled type 1 diabetes mellitus). The impact of various environmental and social factors on the degree of metabolic control of type 1 diabetes was analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No effect of typical environmental and social factors, such as: place of residence, gender, parents' education and their professional activity, on the level of metabolic control of type 1 diabetes was found. However, groups A and B significantly differed in the level of knowledge about diabetes and its treatment, in the regularity of meals, in possessing a nutrition scale and in the self-assessed preparation for taking care and custody of a child with type 1 diabetes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  1. Children with type 1 diabetes and their parents require ongoing education about the disease and its treatment. 2. The regularity of meals and the use of a nutrition scale have considerable impact on the level of metabolic control of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Haematology, Oncology and Endocrinology,Medical University of Gdańsk, ul. Dębinki 7, Gdańsk, Poland. ania-stefanowicz@gumed.edu.pl
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stefanowicz
authors.forename: Dorota
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Birkholz
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Myśliwiec
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Niedźwiecki
authors.forename: Radosław
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Owczuk
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Balcerska
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004032:Diet; D004435:Eating / Q000523:psychology*; D004522:Educational Status; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors