To evaluate the relationship between demographic variables, insulin therapy and glycemic control in type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1), we studied 86 patients (44 F/ 42 M), aged 21.7±10 years: 10 (l 1.6%) pre-pubertal, 22 (25.6%) pubertal and 54 (62.8%) adults, with DM duration of 8.6+7.1 y and age at diagnosis of 13.2±8.5y. The number of clinic visits was 3.6±2.2 per year, with no association with gender, race and Tanner stage. Total insulin dose was 0.9±0.4 U/kg/day: 72 (83.7%) of the patients were using two daily injections; 39 (45.3%) were on fastacting insulin with 36 (92.3%) of them combined with a morning dose of intermediate- acting insulin. Multiple regression analysis showed that only HbA1C had influenced the insulin dose (r=0.45; r²=0.21; p<0.001). HbA1C was 8.4±1.9%, with higher leveis in stage 4 as compared to stages 1, 2, 3 and 5, respectively (10.5±2.4 vs 7.6±1.4 vs 8.9±2.1 vs. 8.3±2.4 vs 8.2±1.8%; p= 0.02). Pubertal females had higher HbAlc and BMI than males: 10.5±2.5 vs 8.3±2.0%; p= 0.02) and 19.4±1.9 vs 18.3±2.2 kg/m² (p= 0.04), respectively. Glycemic control was considered good in 43 (50%) and poor in 27 (31.4%) patients. In conclusion, glycemic control in this study sample had worsened at the end of puberty, independent of the number of clinic visits and of all demographic variables analysed.The high number of patients with poor control must also be considered.
Glycemic control; Type 1 diabetes mellitus; Pubertal status; Body mass index
