Paternal Influence on Glycemic Control at Baseline and One Year Post Diagnosis in Children and Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract Aim: The aim of this exploratory study within an RCT design was to examine the factors with influence on the change in the child's glycemic control from the onset of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) to 1-year post diagnosis by using the following repeated measures: the child's age, parent and family functioning (PedsQL™ Family Impact Module, FIM) and parent level of education. Glycemic control measured as HbA1c at three months post-diagnosis was used in the analysis Methods: 101 children, aged 3-15 years, recently diagnosed with T1DM and their parents participated in the study. Data was collected at baseline and at 12 months after diagnosis. A linear mixed model was used for longitudinal analysis. The variables parental and family functioning, parental educational level, and age of the child were regarded as potentially explanatory of the continuous variable HbA1c. Results: The educational level of the father was the only explanatory variable of glycemic control 1-year postdiagnosis. Conclusion: Since the paternal influence on the metabolic control of the child is significant, this study highlights the importance of involving fathers in the child's diabetes treatment, both at onset and henceforth in the ongoing care.