Research roundup
Our researchers have been busy. Here's a look at some of their work to be published recently.
- The introduction of subsidised continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) has shown early improvement in psychosocial and glycaemic outcomes in patients and their families in Western Australia, according to new Children’s Diabetes Centre research. Parents and children aged over 12 years completed questionnaires at the onset of CGM and two months later on their fear of hypoglycaemia and their diabetes treatment satisfaction. Parents also reported on their sleep quality and children provided information on their hypoglycaemia awareness. HbA1c values were also compared at the study’s start and its completion. Researchers found parents’ fear of hypoglycaemia reduced, diabetes treatment satisfaction increased, parental sleep quality improved, overnight finger-prick testing decreased. In addition, HbA1c values and impaired hypoglycaemic awareness have also decreased. The study was published in the Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics journal. Abstract: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31335192
- New Children’s Diabetes Centre research has found that improved glycaemic control in children with type 1 diabetes is no longer associated with increasing rates of hypoglycaemia. The research analysed trends in HbA1c and hypoglycaemia rates in Australian and European cohorts, showing that the relationship between the two outcomes has changed and that modern diabetes care and technologies have resulted in being able to achieve lower glycaemic control without increasing the risk of severe hypoglycaemia. The study was published in the Diabetic Care journal. Abstract: https://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/early/2019/06/17/dc18-2448?papetoc
- Our research into a parents’ perspective on the use of remote monitoring with continuous glucose monitoring in young children with type 1 diabetes has been published in the prestigious Diabetic Medicine journal. Open-ended questions were used to explore parents' real-life experiences of the remote monitoring and CGM system – specifically how it impacted on their sleep quality, peace of mind, anxiety, freedom, confidence and relationships. Overall, parents of primary school children reported that using remote monitoring and CGM was a mostly beneficial experience. However, negative aspects within the themes were also reported. These findings will help to provide a structure to discuss parent and child expectations and provide targeted education at the start of using remote monitoring and CGM. Abstract: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31257642
First published Thursday 15 August 2019.