Metabolic control in children and adolescents with diabetes: Experience oftwo Italian regional centers

A survey on glycemic control in 201 diabetic children and adolescents, aged 0-18 years, was performed in two Italian Centers for Childhood Diabetes (C hieti and Parma), Mean HbA(1c) was 7.8 +/- 1.4 (range 4.8-13.3%; median 7.6 %), With progression of diabetes duration, deterioration of glycemic contro l was observed (r = 0.20; p < 0.002), more evident in girls than in boys, w ith peaks at 14 (8.9 +/- 2.0 vs 6.9 +/- 1.7%; p < 0.05) and 16 years (9.5 /- 1.4% vs p < 0.02), No differences were found in BMI values in boys or gi rls, or for insulin doses which were increased significantly in both sexes according to age (r = 0.33, p < 0.04), The number of insulin injections did not influence glycemic control, Only one severe hypoglycemic episode was r eported during the period of observation, This study demonstrates that mode rn management, continuous education and patient and family empowerment are effective in attaining excellent glycemic control without increasing the ri sk of hypoglycemia.