Autosurveillance dans la prise en charge du diabète de l’enfant

Abstract

In the last twenty years, blood glucose self-monitoring has attained a nearly optimal level, with reliability, easiness, quickness and safety, which makes it tolerable to a greater number of patients and allows young diabetics to make more easily something which is mandatory to the management of type 1 diabetes. The principles of treatment are identical in children, adolescents and adults. However, many patients experience difficulties in applying the ideal therapeutic model. This must be particularly taken into account in children, who are in a stage of full intellectual and psychological development. Inappropriate demands can drive them to failure and go against the main objective at this period of life, which is education. Reference documents help pediatricians to the daily practice of home blood glucose monitoring and, more generally, management of childhood diabetes: ISPAD Consensus Guidelines (ISPAD=International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes), which has been translated in French, and Cahiers de l'AJD (AJD Note books), for educating new patients. Blood glucose monitoring is recommended: to evaluate the glycemic response to the effect of insulin; to confirm hypoglycemia; to prevent hyperglycemia in case of disease; in case of physical exercise. The frequency of home blood glucose monitoring should be individualized, depending on the acceptability for the young patients and the insulin therapeutic regimen.