Glycemia Risk Index Assessment in a Pediatric and Adult Patient Cohort With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Background: To evaluate the glycemia risk index (GRI) as a new glucometry in pediatric and adult populations with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in clinical practice. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 202 patients with T1D receiving intensive treatment with insulin (25.2% continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion [CSII]) and intermittent scanning (flash) glucose monitoring (isCGM). Clinical and glucometric isCGM data were collected, as well as the component of hypoglycemia (CHypo) and component of hyperglycemia (CHyper) of the GRI. Results: A total of 202 patients (53% males and 67.8% adults) with a mean age of 28.6 ± 15.7 years and 12.5 ± 10.9 years of T1D evolution were evaluated. Adult patients (>19 years) presented higher glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (7.4 ± 1.1 vs 6.7 ± 0.6%; P < .01) and lower time in range (TIR) (55.4 ± 17.5 vs 66.5 ± 13.1%; P < .01) values than the pediatric population, with lower coefficient of variation (CV) (38.6 ± 7.2 vs 42.4 ± 8.9%; P < .05). The GRI was significantly lower in pediatric patients (48.0 ± 22.2 vs 56.8 ± 23.4; P < .05) associated with higher CHypo (7.1 ± 5.1 vs 5.0 ± 4.5; P < .01) and lower CHyper (16.8 ± 9.8 vs 26.5 ± 15.1; P < .01) than in adults. When analyzing treatment with CSII compared with multiple doses of insulin (MDI), a nonsignificant trend to a lower GRI was observed in CSII (51.0 ± 15.3 vs 55.0 ± 25.4; P= .162), with higher levels of CHypo (6.5 ± 4.1 vs 5.4 ± 5.0; P < .01) and lower CHyper (19.6 ± 10.6 vs 24.6 ± 15.2; P < .05) compared with MDI. Conclusions: In pediatric patients and in those with CSII treatment, despite a better control by classical and GRI parameters, higher overall CHypo was observed than in adults and MDI, respectively. The present study supports the usefulness of the GRI as a new glucometric parameter to evaluate the global risk of hypoglycemia-hyperglycemia in both pediatric and adult patients with T1D.