Powers Lab

Study Status: Closed to enrollment

The objective of the proposed research is to determine the impact of parent-child mealtime interactions on children’s post-prandial blood glucose levels. The researcher used direct observation techniques to evaluate mealtimes and continuous blood glucose sensing to assess children’s blood glucose to clarify the impact of poor parent-child mealtime interactions on children’s glycemic functioning. Related information pertaining to parent-child psychosocial functioning was obtained to determine their impact on parents’ perceptions of mealtimes and mealtime management strategies.
 

Funded by:
National Institutes of Health − National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, K24 DK59973.

Study Status: Closed to enrollment

Managing dietary intake in young children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is important in maintaining blood sugar levels within normal range. Under conventional nutritional management, parents and children with T1DM are asked to select certain food types and keep regular eating schedules to match children’s daily insulin levels.

For young children with T1DM, families may experience increased levels of stress at mealtimes because of dietary requirements. In addition, families of children with T1DM may experience more miscalculations in daily intake management to optimize nutritional goals. Research investigations assessing barriers to nutritional goals are needed to inform patient care. In this study, we assessed food intake, daily blood sugar levels and insulin requirements, daily exercise activity, mealtime behaviors and family stress.

Funded by:
National Institutes of Health − National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, K24 DK59973.

Study Status: Closed to enrollment

Fear of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) in adults and teenagers with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) has been examined. In young children, understanding parental perceptions and behaviors surrounding hypoglycemic events is important because parents are their primary caretakers. The short-term goal of this study is to evaluate the reliability and validity of a revised version of the Hypoglycemic Fear Survey (HFS) with parents of young children with T1DM. Demographic data, parental behaviors and hypoglycemia, blood glucose levels and medical history (age of diagnosis, history of clinic visits, hospitalizations and hemoglobin A1C levels) were reviewed.

Families were recruited from the Diabetes Clinic at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Children were between 18 months old and 8 years old. Children were diagnosed with T1DM for at least six months. HFS was completed by a primary and secondary caregiver at the beginning of the study. For 14 consecutive days, families monitored blood glucose levels using the Freestyle meter. After the 14 days, glucose meters were downloaded. In addition, primary and secondary caregivers were again given the HFS questionnaire.

Funded by: 
National Institutes of Health − National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, K4 DK59973.