Blood Glucose Control and Related Factors at a Camp for Korean Children and Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes.

Data about Asian children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes are sparse. This study's objectives were to describe blood glucose (BG) levels and related factors at a camp for Korean children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. This descriptive study was conducted January 8-10, 2015. The participants, 24 children and adolescents, were recruited for a 3-day residential diabetes camp. Data on 24 campers were analyzed. Their mean age was 13.4 (± 1.7) years; 44.4% were boys, and mean HgbA1c was 8.5% (± 1.4%). Results revealed that BG levels were maintained safely: The mean BG level during the 3-day stay was 171.1 (± 33.3) mg/dl. Multiple regression analysis showed that insulin adjustment for hyperglycemia (standardized ß = .426; t = 2.431; p = .030) and snacks for hypoglycemia (standardized ß = -.719; t = -3.723; p = .003) at the camp were the only independent contributors to mean BG levels during the 3-day study period. No demographic or clinical factor was found to be associated with the mean BG level. This is the first study of its kind to be conducted in an Asian population, presumably because the prevalence of type 1 diabetes in Asia is low and diabetes camps are a novel concept. Further research is recommended to assess the characteristics of campers (e.g., diet, activity levels, and cultural background) and to determine how the health outcomes of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes are affected by camp programs.

Changes in nutritional status among displaced North Korean children living in South Korea.

BACKGROUND: As many nations experience the nutrition transition, changes in the nutritional status of children moving from food insecure to food affluent societies has become an important, but infrequently studied, public health issue. AIM: To determine changes in the nutritional status of North Korean children after relocating to food-affluent South Korea (SK) from food-deficient North Korea (NK) and relationships of current nutritional status with food environment at birth and exposure to food affluent environments. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Socioeconomic status, relocation history and anthropometric information were obtained from 70 NK children (6-15 years) living in SK, through questionnaires, interviews and direct measurements. RESULTS: Following the first 2 years in SK, the height and weight of NK children significantly (p = 0.000) improved, yet they were still shorter (p = 0.000) than SK peers, while the prevalence of obesity was similar to those of SK children. The likelihood of remaining stunted was significantly associated with older age and shorter residency in SK (p < 0.05), but there was no significant association with food security situation at birth. CONCLUSION: Even a short exposure to food affluent environments improved the nutritional status among children, but linear growth deficits are slow to recover as overall nutritional status remains poor compared to peers without exposures to food insecurity.

Food security experiences of displaced North Korean households.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Food shortage situation in North Korea has gained much interest, however food insecurity caused by the food shortage in North Korean households has not been much investigated. This study examined food security experiences and food consumption pattern of displaced North Korean households currently living in South Korea. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Food security experience among 51 North Korean households living in South Korea was examined using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) in three time points: immediately before childbirth, immediately before leaving North Korea, and immediately before entering South Korea. Meal/snack consumption frequencies and food diversity were also examined. RESULTS: Food security situation was the worst at the time of immediately before leaving North Korea with the average HFIAS score of 10.05. The households that were food insecure, they tended to be "severely" insecure. Although majority of the subjects reported having three or more meals a day, food diversity in their diet was very low with the average food diversity score of 2.17 immediately before childbirth and 1.74 immediately before leaving North Korea. Their diet appeared to heavily rely on grain and vegetable. CONCLUSIONS: This study is one of few that specifically examined food security of North Korean households with a pre-developed scale, and that demonstrated food security situation at different time points in quantified terms. Replicating this study with different groups of North Korean households for different time points would allow more complete understanding of impacts of food shortage. Food diversity score could provide a good way to examine changes of food consumption occurring to North Koreans in the process of adaptation. More attention to the changes occurring during adaption to South Korea should be given to understand the process and impact and to prepare public nutrition policy for the re-unified Korea.