Effect of Caregiver’s Health Education on Patterns of Self-Management and Glycemic Control in Pediatric Type 1 Diabetes

Background: Type I diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a lifelong disease that affects all aspects of
diseased children’s life and thus can negatively affect their mental, physical health and their
health-related quality of life. Effective self-management of type 1 diabetes in pre-adolescent
and adolescent years is important to prevent diabetes-related complications later in life.
Objectives: to assess self-management patterns among caregivers of type 1 diabetic children
pre and post health education about management of pediatric Type 1 diabetes mellitus and to
assess glycemic control pre and post health education among children attending Zagazig
university diabetes clinic. Method: An educational intervention (pre-test/post-test) study was
carried out from the first of August 2019 to the end of March 2020 for Caregivers of Type 1
Diabetes children who attend Zagazig diabetes clinic for receiving periodic insulin therapy
and regular checkup. Results: Self-Management patterns had significantly changed
throughout the study as adaptive pattern increased from 22.4% pre-intervention to 36.8% and
44.3% post-intervention at 3 and 6 months respectively. On other hand, maladaptive pattern
decreased from 20.8% pre-intervention to 7.9% and 6.6% post-intervention at 3 and 6 months
respectively. Glycemic control had significantly improved throughout the study. Percentage
with good glycemic control increased from 57.6% pre-intervention to 62.3% and 70.8% postintervention
at 3 and 6 months respectively. Conclusion: The study illustrated that selfmanagement
among caregivers of Type 1 Diabetes children as well as the children’s glycemic
control improved after health education. Adaptive Self-Management pattern was significantly
associated with good glycemic control.