According to researchers, blood glucose levels in young people with Type 1 diabetes improved during Britain’s first national lockdown in 2020.
The team compared how well 180 children and teens in two UK communities controlled their Type 1 diabetes in the 12 weeks before and after the lockdown began on March 23, 2020. A significant improvement was found in blood glucose levels after the start of the lockdown. Average long-term blood sugar measurement (HbA1c) fell, and blood sugar readings more often in the range that researchers asked them to achieve (3.9–10mmol/l).
“Children and families found it easier to manage when they were forced to stay at home. This helps us to understand the pressure that is put on patients and families when trying to live normal busy lives with activities outside of the home,” said lead researcher Dr Neil Lawrence of Sheffield Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. “This gives us important insights into where advice, education and support should be directed.”
The study was presented virtually at the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting held in March 2021.
