A Novel Behavioral Intervention in Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Improves Glycemic Control: Preliminary Results From a Pilot Randomized Control Trial. (April 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Maranda, Louise; Lau, May; Stewart, Sunita M.; Gupta, Olga T.
• Is Part Of: Diabetes educator. Volume 41:Number 2(2015:Apr.)
• Page Start: 224
• Page End: 230
• Publication Date: 2015-04
• Subjects: Diabetes -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; 616.462005
• DOI: 10.1177/0145721714567235
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0145-7217

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop and pilot-test an innovative behavioral intervention in adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) incorporating structured care of a pet to improve glycemic control. Methods: Twenty-eight adolescents with A1C > 8.5% (69 mmol/mol) were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (care of a Betta splendens pet fish) or the control group (usual care). Adolescents in the intervention group were given instructions to associate daily and weekly fish care duties with diabetes self-management tasks, including blood glucose testing and parent-adolescent communication. Results: After 3 months, the participants in the intervention group exhibited a statistically significant decrease in A1C level (−0.5%) compared with their peers in the control group, who had an increase in A1C level (0.8%) ( P = .04). The younger adolescents (10-13 years of age) demonstrated a greater response to the intervention, which was statistically significant (−1.5% vs 0.6%, P = .04), compared with the older adolescents (14-17 years of age). Conclusions: Structured care of a pet fish can improve glycemic control in adolescents with T1DM, likely by providing cues to perform diabetes self-management behaviors.