title: Practices, perceptions and expectations for carbohydrate counting in patients with type 1 diabetes - Results from an online survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Characterize adult patients with diabetes on intensive insulin therapy in terms of: (a) practices and perceived difficulties relative to carbohydrate counting (CC) and diabetes treatment, and (b) their perceptions and expectations relative to CC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants completed a 30-question web-based questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and using CC as part of their treatment plan (n=180) were included in this analysis. Participants were predominantly women (64%), aged 42±13years old and had diabetes for 22±13years. A large proportion of participants reported being confident in applying CC (78%) and considered precise CC as being important for glycemic control (91%), while only 17% reported finding CC difficult. Despite the low perceived difficulty associated with CC, many specific difficulties were encountered by patients such as the perception that glycemia fluctuates even with appropriate CC and that CC complicates the management of diabetes. A larger proportion of participants with a lower level of education (<university degree) and current or history of depression reported not feeling confident in applying CC. Most respondents believed that new technologies could facilitate CC (57%) and would be interested in such technology (62%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although a majority of participant reported being confident in applying CC, many difficulties and constraints associated with CC have been identified. These results highlight that patients with a lower level of education and with a history or current depression could benefit from specific CC education strategies. Future studies should examine the efficacy of technology tools to facilitate CC.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal, 110 Pins Avenue West, H2W 1R7 Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Nutrition, University of Montréal, 2375 Chemin de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine, H3T 1A8 Montréal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Andréanne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fortin
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal, 110 Pins Avenue West, H2W 1R7 Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Nutrition, University of Montréal, 2375 Chemin de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine, H3T 1A8 Montréal, Quebec, Canada; Montreal Diabetes Research Center (MDRC), 900 Saint-Denis, H2X 0A9 Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Research Center of the University of Montréal Hospital Center (CRCHUM), 900 Saint-Denis, H2X 0A9 Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, 1110 Pins Avenue, H3A 1A3 Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Rémi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rabasa-Lhoret
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal, 110 Pins Avenue West, H2W 1R7 Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Nutrition, University of Montréal, 2375 Chemin de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine, H3T 1A8 Montréal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Amélie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roy-Fleming
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal, 110 Pins Avenue West, H2W 1R7 Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Desjardins
authors.affiliation: Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, 1110 Pins Avenue, H3A 1A3 Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Anne-Sophie
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Brazeau
authors.affiliation: Research Center of the University of Montréal Hospital Center (CRCHUM), 900 Saint-Denis, H2X 0A9 Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ladouceur
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal, 110 Pins Avenue West, H2W 1R7 Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Nutrition, University of Montréal, 2375 Chemin de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine, H3T 1A8 Montréal, Quebec, Canada. Electronic address: veronique.gingras@ircm.qc.ca.
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gingras
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009862:Online Systems; D010465:Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D007328:Insulin
keywords: Carbohydrate counting; Diabetes treatment; Education; Technology; Type 1 diabetes