FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH HIGH HBA1C IN CHILDREN WITH DIABETES MELLITUS AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL.

J Peop Univ Med Health Sci. 2025:15(2), 181-187. http://doi.org/10.46536/jpumhs/2025/15.02.639

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common chronic endocrine disorder among children, with type 1 diabetes (T1D) being the predominant form. Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is a key biomarker used to assess long-term glycemic control. This study aimed to identify factors associated
with poor glycemic control in diabetic children attending a tertiary care hospital. METHODS: It was a cross-sectional analytical study performed at Department of Pediatrics, Khyber Teaching Hospital Peshawar a tertiary care centre having a catchment area of primary and secondary care facilities for both urban and rural population of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The research was conducted between January 2024 and December 2024 for 1 year. All children aged 1–18 years diagnosed to have diabetes mellitus (mainly type 1 diabetes) who were being seen at pediatric outdoor and admitted to pediatrics wards of Khyber Teaching Hospital were included. RESULTS: There was a modest female dominance (54.5%) and an average age of 11.2 ± 3.5 years. Most patients (62.1%) reported living in an urban area, and 58.6% reported having a poor socioeconomic status. Diabetes lasted an average of 3.1 ± 1.8 years. Of all patients, 47 (32.4%) had HbA1c ≤7.5%, while 98 (67.6%) had poor glycemic control (HbA1c > 7.5%). CONCLUSION: Uncontrolled glycemia among diabetic children can be modified by caregiver education, diabetes self-management and the availability of structured educational programs. 'Family centered diabetes care and promotion of awareness may be a strategy to improve glycemic outcomes in children, particularly in low resource health care settings.