Metabolic control and diet in Finnish diabetic adolescents

The effects of dietary, clinical and demographic factors on metabolic control in 105 diabetic adolescents were studied. All patients had diabetes for longer than two years and a daily insulin dose greater than 0.5 IU/kg body weight. Low body mass index, high social class, high number of daily eating occasions, high day-to-day variation in energy intake, high number of urine tests and a long interval between insulin injection and eating were associated with good metabolic control. Many of these determinants reflect also the general compliance with the diabetic regimen. The results stress the importance of good coordination between insulin injections and eating habits.