DIABETES MELLITUS TYPE 1 IN ADOLESCENTS: IMPACT OF VITAMIN D STATUS.

OBJECTIVE: The aim: To evaluate the effect of vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency on the compensation of the disease in adolescents with diabetes mellitus type 1. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: 124 patients were examined, among them: 33 from the control group, 91 adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus. All patients were between 10-18 years old and were residents of the Podillya region of Ukraine. RESULTS: Results: According to the results of the study Vitamin D levels in adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus are significantly lower, comparing with healthy adolescents of the same age group. Vitamin D levels among boys with type 1 diabetes mellitus were significantly lower comparing to girls of the same group. The boys of the control group had significantly higher levels of vitamin D in the blood comparing to boys with type 1 diabetes mellitus, p <0.001. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: The majority of adolescents aged 13-18 years with type 1 diabetes mellitus have vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency regardless of the state of glycemic control of the disease.

Impact of hypoglycemia on daily life of type 2 diabetes patients in Ukraine.

This study evaluates the impact of hypoglycemia on the lives of Ukrainian patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The secondary objective was to explore patient-physician relationships and the attitudes of patients towards various informational resources on diabetes management. Three focus groups with 26 patients were conducted. Qualitative information was evaluated using content analysis. The results show that patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Ukraine are adapting to potential attacks of hypoglycemia; however, they still experience periodic manifestations of hypoglycemia that significantly affect their psychological well-being. This result is similar to observations made in other countries. Ukrainian patients >40 years old mainly receive information on disease management from endocrinologists, and rarely use internet resources on diabetes management. Information provision was especially important at the early stage of the disease, when patients lack information on hypoglycemia manifestations and could therefore fail to identify and manage it properly.