Background/Aim. Balancing strict glycemic control with setting realistic
goals for each individual child and family can optimize growth, ensure
normal pubertal development and emotional maturation, and control long term
complications in children with type 1 diabetes (T1DM). The aim of this study
was to evaluate the efficacy of short-term continuous glucose monitoring
system (CGMS) application in improvement of glycemic control in pediatric
type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients. Methods. A total of 80 pediatric
T1DM patients were randomly assigned into the experimental and the control
group. The experimental group wore CGMS sensor for 72 hours at the beginning
of the study. Self-monitored blood glucose (SMBG) levels and hemoglobin A1c
(HbA1c) levels were obtained for both groups at baseline, and at 3 and 6
months. Results. There was a significant improvement in HbA1c (p < 0.001),
in both the experimental and the control group, without a significant
difference between the groups. Nevertheless, after 6 months the improvement
of mean glycemia was noticed only in the experimental group. This finding
was accompanied with a decrease in the number of hyperglycemic events and no
increase in the number of hypoglycemic events in the experimental group.
Conclusions. The results suggest that the CGMS can be considered as a
valuable tool in treating pediatric T1DM patients, however further research
is needed to more accurately estimate to what extent, if any, it outperforms
intensive self-monitoring of blood glucose.
Clinical efficacy of Professional Continuous Glucose Monitoring in improving glycemic control among children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: An Open-label Randomized Control Trial
