The relationship between self-care and metabolic control in children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

To assess the relationship between insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) self-care management and metabolic control in school-aged children, 21 children ages 10 to 14 years with a duration of IDDM of 5.5 years (range 1 to 13 years) were studied. Self-care was defined as the activities that children with IDDM initiate and perform on their own in the management of their disease. Self-care activity was assessed by a revised Self-Care Questionnaire (SCQ), and metabolic control was determined by HbA1c levels obtained at the same time the SCQ was completed. A higher level of self-care management (higher SCQ) was hypothesized to correlate with better metabolic control (lower HbA1c). Regression analysis of SCQ and HbA1c supported the expected inverse relationship but not at a significant level. The only significant predictors of self-care activity and metabolic control were experience at a specialized camp for children with diabetes and race, with Caucasian children scoring higher in self-care and having lower HbA1c values than African American children.