Effects of Carbohydrate Counting on Glucose Control and Quality of Life Over 24 Weeks

Sysop · March 5th, 2011, 03:35 AM

OBJECTIVE Few studies have assessed the efficacy of carbohydrate counting in type 1 diabetes, and none have validated its efficacy in patients who receive continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII). The aim of our study was to test the effect of carbohydrate counting on glycemic control and quality of life in adult patients with type 1 diabetes who are receiving CSII.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Sixty-one adult patients with type 1 diabetes receiving CSII were randomly assigned to either learning carbohydrate counting (intervention) or estimating pre-meal insulin dose in the usual empirical way (control). At baseline and 12 and 24 weeks, we measured HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose, BMI, waist circumference, recorded daily insulin dose, and capillary glucose data, and administered the Diabetes Specific Quality of Life Scale (DSQOLS) questionnaire.
RESULTS
Intention-to-treat analysis showed improvement of the DSQOLS score related to diet restrictions (week 24 – baseline difference, P = 0.008) and reduction of BMI (P = 0.003) and waist circumference (P = 0.002) in the intervention group compared with control subjects. No changes in HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose, daily insulin dose, and hypoglycemic episodes (

March 5th, 2011, 03:35 AM	#1
Sysop Administrator Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 83	Effects of Carbohydrate Counting on Glucose Control and Quality of Life Over 24 Weeks OBJECTIVE Few studies have assessed the efficacy of carbohydrate counting in type 1 diabetes, and none have validated its efficacy in patients who receive continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII). The aim of our study was to test the effect of carbohydrate counting on glycemic control and quality of life in adult patients with type 1 diabetes who are receiving CSII. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Sixty-one adult patients with type 1 diabetes receiving CSII were randomly assigned to either learning carbohydrate counting (intervention) or estimating pre-meal insulin dose in the usual empirical way (control). At baseline and 12 and 24 weeks, we measured HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose, BMI, waist circumference, recorded daily insulin dose, and capillary glucose data, and administered the Diabetes Specific Quality of Life Scale (DSQOLS) questionnaire. RESULTS Intention-to-treat analysis showed improvement of the DSQOLS score related to diet restrictions (week 24 – baseline difference, P = 0.008) and reduction of BMI (P = 0.003) and waist circumference (P = 0.002) in the intervention group compared with control subjects. No changes in HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose, daily insulin dose, and hypoglycemic episodes (