Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Normal Blood Sugars; Type 1 Teens

Methods for achieving stable normoglycemia during an educational camp for youth with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Stan De Loach, Ph.D., CDE Certified Diabetes Educator and Clinical Psychologist in independent practice México, Distrito Federal, México

ABSTRACT
Objective
For children and adolescents with recent-onset DM1 to learn to quickly and safely achieve normoglycemia (71—99 mg/dl) and glycemic stability (MAGE score £ 95), using self-directed learning methods, insulin analogues, reduced concentration of dietary CHO, and ad libitum physical activity and SMBG, during an educational camp.

Methods
A 5-person international multidisciplinary team managed time, task, territory, technique, and technology boundaries, while responding to the educational and emotional needs of 9 Campers (8—17 years of age [11.8 ± 2.6]), with average diabetes duration of 1.62 years (± .88), during a residential 57-hour (3-day/2-night) diabetes camp.

Campers chose foods from meal buffets, calculated lispro insulin doses, and exercised and monitored BG at will. SMBG values documented in each Camper's combined glucose/ketone monitor furnished statistical data.

Results
Mean arrival and departure BG was 209 mg/dl (± 101.5) and 87 mg/dl (± 23), respectively [P less than .0025].

Mean 3-day BG (95 mg/dl ± 21) and MAGE score (66 ± 27) validated stable euglycemia.

Conclusions
Integrating self-directed diabetologic education, basal/preprandial insulin therapy with analogues, elective physical activity and SMBG, and reduced concentration of dietary CHO rapidly and safely established routinely normal mean daily glycemic levels and stability in this sample.

3 comments:

  1. Food plan with minimal concentrated CHO

    For persons with DM, the American Diabetes Association recommends the provision of 50—60% of total daily calories from CHO, including sources of concentrated CHO (rice, fruit, pasta, potatoes, bread, tortilla). For the majority of the Campers and Staff with DM1, intake of a large percentage of these "simple" CHO makes glycemic normalization and stability difficult, if not impossible.

    The preceding quote from the study is (I assume) the reason you referenced the study, that and the fact that these Type 1 Diabetic teens were able to achieve normal blood sugars with a low carb diet.

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  2. What a WONDERFUL article.

    It is going to take another 20 years, but someday the medical establishment might actually be working FOR rather than against the interests of people with diabetes.

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  3. Cracking study, Mexico hmmmm... Any USA diabetics heading south?

    Peter

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