Connection between glycemic variability obtained using the uniGluko system and the quality of life people with type 1 diabetes

Abstract

Research has shown that glycemic variability increases the risk of the development of acute and chronic complications with diabetes. Accordingly, the assessment of glycemic variability is of great importance to determine the quality of life for people suffering from diabetes. Objective: To examine the connection between glycemic variability and the quality of life for people with type 1 diabetes who use self-monitoring blood glucose devices. Respondents and methods: 42 respondents participated in the research with an average age of 39.6, who are treated with intensified insulin therapy. For the purpose of glycemic variability assessment, an innovative uniGluko system is used, which enables the display of glycemia in a unique graphic interface in the form of numeric values within the last three months from which a glycemic variability index was calculated as well as a general information survey, a survey on the quality of life from the World Health Organization (WHOQOL – BREF) and a short questionnaire regarding illness perception (Brief – IPQ). Results: By usage of standard deviation as a glyemic variability measure, statistically significant results have been obtained and they demonstrate that lower glycemic variability is connected to better quality of life (rs=-0.4571; p=0.0023), higher satisfaction with health (rs=-0.3186; p=0.0398) and reduced impact of disease on emotional life (rs=0.4097; p=0.,0071). Lower glucose variability implies reduced impact of disease on everyday life (rs=0.3091; p=0.0464), reduced incidence of symptoms (rs=0.3441; p=0.0255), and patients’ sense that they have more control over disease (rs=-0.5185; p=0.0004). Conclusion: The glycemic variability has a negative impact on life quality and health of patients with diabetes type 1.