Predictors of metabolic control in children with Type 1 diabetes: The impact of Hurricane Katrina in a prospective study

AimsTo prospectively examine the effects of fear of hypoglycemia (FH), adherence to blood glucose testing, and anxiety on metabolic control in youth with Type 1 diabetes. To examine the relationships among these variables in the context of a hurricane.MethodsParticipants included 158 children completing measures at two times, with 58 participants completing measures pre- and post-Hurricane Katrina. Hierarchical regressions were run predicting indices of metabolic control.ResultsHbA1c was a unique predictor of subsequent HbA1c although a significant interaction between children's FH and hurricane group was found for HbA1c. Percent of low blood glucose (BG) was the only unique predictor of subsequent low BG. Percent of high BG and demographic variables were predictors of subsequent high BG. There was also a significant interaction between children's FH and hurricane group for high BG.ConclusionsPrior metabolic control is a strong predictor of subsequent metabolic control. Youth who exhibit FH are at risk for poor metabolic control, specifically demonstrating high BG levels and HbA1c if they have experienced a major stressor such as a natural disaster.