Investigation of the therapeutic education effect on glycemic control and quality of life of children and adolescents with type-1 diabetes mellitus: A non-randomized controlled study.

Background: Type-1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is one of the most dreaded chronic diseases, especially in children or youth. To help patients and their families effectively manage their disease, structured therapeutic patient education (TPE) is essential.

Materials and method: The purpose of this non-randomized before and after controlled study was to assess TPE program effects. In total, 200 T1DM children and adolescents, aged 8-18 years, selected from two pediatric departments, were equally assigned to the intervention and control groups. The primary endpoints were differences between groups at 3 months follow-up in measured HbA1c and health-related quality of life (QoL) assessed by a validated questionnaire.

Results: At 3 months follow-up of a TPE intervention for T1DM children and adolescents, although there was no significant change in HbA1c for both groups, a significant improvement was observed in the maximum pre- and postprandial blood glucose levels (r: ~0.3; variation rates: -10,47% and -3,85%, respectively) in the intervention group, whereas there was a significant increase in the maximum and minimum of preprandial blood glucose levels in the control group (r: ~0.3, variation rates: 14.29% and 25%, respectively). Global and dimensional QoL mean scores variation rates showed a significant difference between groups, with an improvement in the intervention group (r ≥ 0.7, Cohen's > 0.8) and a decrease in the control group (r ≥ 0.7).

Conclusion: These results support the hypotheses of difference between the study groups in favor of better glycemic control and QoL for the intervention group.