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A diabetes awareness campaign prevents diabetic ketoacidosis in children at their initial presentation with type 1 diabetes
Pediatric Diabetes, 08/02/2012
King BR et al. – During the diabetes awareness campaign, the rate of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) at initial diagnosis of type 1 diabetes in children decreased by 64%.
Methods- This study was a controlled population intervention study with a 2-yr baseline period and a 2-yr intervention period.
- Data were collected on all children presenting with their initial diagnosis of type 1 diabetes [pH, bicarbonate, base excess, blood glucose level (BGL), urea, and creatinine] at Gosford, Newcastle, and Sydney (Sydney Children's Hospital and Royal North Shore Hospital).
- During the intervention period, diabetes education occurred in the intervention region (Gosford). Child care centers, schools, and doctor's offices were offered education and posters about the symptoms of type 1 diabetes.
- Doctor's offices were given glucose and ketone testing equipment. The control regions (Newcastle and Sydney) did not receive any educational intervention or test equipment. DKA was defined as pH < 7.3 or bicarbonate < 15 mmol/L.
- In Gosford, the proportion of children presenting in DKA decreased from 37.5% (15/40) during the 2-yr baseline period to 13.8% (4/29) during the 2-yr intervention.
- There was no significant change in the control regions during the same time periods, 37.4% (46/123) and 38.6% (49/127), respectively.
- In Gosford, the average BGL at presentation was 27.5 mmol/L during the baseline and 21.2 mmol/L during the intervention.