Behavioral Analysis of Chinese Adult Patients with Type 1 Diabetes on Self-monitoring of Blood Glucose.

BACKGROUND: The information-motivation-behavioral skills (IMB) model of health behavior is an effective tool to evaluate the behavior of diabetes self-management. The purpose of this study was to explore behavioral factors affecting the practice of self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) within the frame of IMB model of health behavioral among adult patients with type 1 diabetes in a single diabetes clinic in China. METHODS: A questionnaire with three subscales on SMBG information, motivation, and behavioral skills based on IMB model was developed. Validity and reliability of the measures were examined and guaranteed. Adult patients with type 1 diabetes visiting our diabetes clinic from January to March 2012 (n = 55) were consecutively interviewed. The self-completion questionnaires were administered and finished at face-to-face interviews among these patients. Both descriptive and correlational analyses were made. RESULTS: Fifty-five patients finished the questionnaires, with the median duration of diabetes 4.5 years and the median of SMBG frequency 2.00. Specific SMBG information deficits, motivation obstacles, and behavioral skill limitations were identified in a substantial proportion of participants. Scores of SMBG motivation (r = 0.299, P= 0.026) and behavioral skills (r = 0.425, P= 0.001) were significantly correlated with SMBG frequency. The multiple correlation of SMBG information, SMBG motivation, and SMBG behavioral skills with SMBG frequency was R = 0.411 (R2 = 0.169, P= 0.023). CONCLUSIONS: Adult patients with type 1 diabetes in our clinic had substantial SMBG information deficits, motivation obstacles, and skill limitations. This information provided potential-focused education targets for diabetes health-care providers.

The CTLA4 +49A/G polymorphism is associated with an increased risk of Hashimoto's thyroiditis in Asian but not Caucasian populations: an updated meta-analysis.

The polymorphism +49A/G in the cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) gene has been implicated in susceptibility to Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT), but the findings are not clear-cut. This study aimed to investigate the association between CTLA-4 polymorphisms and HT risk using an updated meta-analysis. A meta-analysis was carried out of 14 previous studies that investigated the CTLA-4 +49A/G polymorphism and HT risk. +49A/G was associated with a significantly increased HT risk in both allele analysis and all genetic models (allele analysis: G vs. A: P < 0.001, OR = 1.379, 95 % CI = 1.244-1.529). Subgroup analysis by ethnicity showed a significantly increased HT risk with the G allele and all other genetic models in the Asian subgroup (P < 0.001). In the Caucasian subgroup, no significant association was detected between the CTLA-4 +49 G allele and HT, or in the genetic model analysis (P = 0.05). This gene-based analysis indicates that the cumulative effect of the +49A/G polymorphism in CTLA-4 is associated with HT in Asians, but appears to have no effect on HT in Caucasians.

[Incidence and related risk factors of diabetic ketoacidosis in Guangdong type 1 diabetics].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence and the predictors of diabetes ketoacidosis (DKA) in Chinese type 1 diabetics so as to lay a foundation for better prevention and treatment. METHODS: For this cross-sectional study, a total of 611 patients with established type 1 diabetes between August 6, 2010 and March 31, 2012 were recruited from 16 hospitals in Guangdong Province. And 491 of them were over 18 years old. A data entry form was used to collect the patient information on demographics, medical history, acute/chronic complications, smoking/drinking status, diet, exercise, physical examination and treatment, etc. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and stimulated C peptide levels were centrally measured. The incidence rate of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) was calculated at events per 100 patient-years. To determine the predictors of DKA, Poisson's regression model was used for analysis. And backward stepwise logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the predictors of DKA recurrence. The protocol and informed consent form were approved by Ethics Committee of Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University. Written informed consent was obtained from patients (age > 18 years) or their legal guardians (age < 18 years). RESULTS: Among them, 53.7% were females. The mean age was 27.8 years (range: 19.5 - 37.3). The age of onset was 22.7 (14.0 - 31.4) years old and disease duration 4.3 (1.7 - 7.9) years. Overweight and obese patients accounted for 10.8% and 1.0% respectively. Among them, the self-monitoring frequency of blood glucose was 0.4 (0.1 - 1.4) times per day. Overall, 26.4% patients reached the target of age-specific HbA1c values. The overall incidence of DKA was 26.4 per 100 patient-years. Significant predictors of DKA in the Poisson regression model were females (RR = 2.12), medical insurance claiming percentage below 50% (RR = 1.84), uncontrolled diet (never controlled diet vs. usually controlled diet, RR = 1.76), smoking (RR = 2.18) as well as worse glycemic control (HbA1c per 1.0% increment, RR = 1.15). Totally, 34.4% of DKA episodes occurred in 3.8% of type 1 diabetics with recurrent events (no less than 2 episodes). The recurrence of DKA was associated with females (RR = 10.56), smoking (RR = 6.99), worse beta cell function (stimulated C peptide per 100 pmol/L decrement, RR = 4.88) and worse glycemic control (HbA1c per 1.0% increment, RR = 1.16). CONCLUSION: There is a high incidence of DKA in Chinese type 1 diabetics. And it is recurrent in high-risk patients. Comprehensive management should be offered to control modifiable risk factors in these patients.

[Cross-sectional study of current situation of glycemic control with type 1 diabetes in Guangdong Province].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the glycemic control and the related factors of type 1 diabetic patients in Guangdong Province. METHODS: Medical records and blood samples of type 1 diabetic patients were collected in 89 tertiary and secondary hospitals from all of the 21 cities in Guangdong Province. The clinical data were analyzed to explore the correlates of glycemic control. HbA1c levels, measured in Guangdong Diabetes Center, were used to assess glycemic control. RESULTS: 851 patients were enrolled from August 6, 2010 to May 25, 2011. There were 408 males and 443 females. The median (interquartile range) age was 29.6 years (20.3 - 41.3 years). The onset age of diabetes was 25.3 years (15.7 - 35.5 years). The disease duration was 3.3 years (1.0 - 7.3 years). The BMI was 19.9 kg/m(2) (17.9 - 21.8 kg/m(2)). HbA1c levels were 8.6% (6.9% - 11.0%) and only 234 (27.50%) patients reached the age-specific target levels. Correlates with poorer glycemic control were 13 - 19 years old (vs 7 - 12 and ≥ 20 years old), lower household income, not on dietary intervention, never accepting diabetic education and shorter diabetic duration. CONCLUSION: The majority of Guangdong type 1 diabetic patients did not achieve target values for glycemic control, indicating an urgent need for comprehensive management to improve glycemic control.