Factors Influencing Glycaemic Control in Adolescents with Type I Diabetes: Cross-Sectional Analysis of Individual and Parental Factors

Objective: To identify modifiable risk factors that influence glycaemic control in Type I Diabetic adolescents. Study Design: A cross-sectional analytical study. Place and Duration of the Study: Outpatient clinics, Department of Paediatric, Endocrinology, and Child Health, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan, from January 2020 to December 2022. Methodology: This study included 246 randomly selected adolescents aged 10-18 years with Type I Diabetes on multiple daily injections. Data were gathered through face-to-face interviews and scrutiny of medical records. The research employed multiple logistic regression analysis to identify and understand the factors associated with glycaemic control. Results: Of the 246 adolescents (mean age 13.7 years, range 10-18 years), there were 56% females and 43% males. The average duration of Diabetes diagnosis was 5.1 years (range 1-15 years). HbA1c levels reflecting poor glycaemic control (HbA1c >7.5%) were found in 71% of the study population. Multivariate analysis showed poor compliance with diet (OR: 2.2, CI: 0.9, 4.6, p = 0.056), infrequent clinic visits (OR: 3.32, CI: 1.63, 6.79, p = 0.001), and number of insulin injections per day (OR: 0.12, CI: 0.02, 0.93, p = 0.043) were significantly associated with increased odds of suboptimal glycaemic control. Conclusion: This study concluded that glycaemic control in the adolescent population was suboptimal. For optimal glycaemic control, treating physicians should concentrate on the modifiable factors responsible for glycaemic control.