(Journal Article): Glycaemic control in a type 1 diabetes clinic for younger adults
 
Saunders SA, Wallymahmed M, MacFarlane IA (University Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Clinical Sciences Centre, University Hospital Aintree, Liverpool L9 7AL, United Kingdom, simon@simple5.freeserve.co.uk )
 
IN: QJM 2004; 97(9):575-580
Impact Factor(s) of QJM: 2.58 (2004), 2.395 (2003), 2.601 (2001)

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ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: In the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT, 1993) tight diabetes control (HbA1c <7%) was associated with significantly less microvascular complications compared to 'conventionally' treated type 1 patients. AIM: To assess the effectiveness of a dedicated young-adult type 1 diabetes clinic in achieving HbA1c levels <7% between 1991 and 2001. DESIGN: Retrospective review of case-notes. METHODS: All patients who attended the clinic in the first six years (1991 to 1996) were studied. All were offered at least two appointments per year. Case-notes were reviewed up to December 2001. RESULTS: We treated 386 type 1 patients (59.8% male, mean age 28.7 years, mean duration diabetes 9.5 years). After a mean follow-up of 7.7 years, 261 (67.6%) had attended in the past 2 years, 22 (5.8%) were known to have died, 11 (2.8%) had transferred to another clinic and 92 (23.8%) had repeatedly failed to attend appointments for 2 years. Over 11 years, the total mean (SD) HbA1c was 9.19% (1.3). Only 3.4% of patients achieved an average HbA1c of <7% during the study period, and 80% of patients had average HbA1c levels of >8%. DISCUSSION: Despite regular specialist physician, specialist diabetes nurse and dietician input, encouragement of multiple daily insulin injections and repeatedly following-up failed appointments (including home visits), fewer than 1:20 patients achieved the DCCT target of mean HbA1c <7%. Tight diabetes control is rare in a routine clinic setting.