Measures of Adherence and Challenges in Using Glucometer Data in Youth with Type 1 Diabetes: Rethinking the Value of Self-Report

Purpose. the current study compares the relative strength of associations of different adherence measures with glycemic control in adolescents with type 1 diabetes,while highlighting the challenges in using more objective measures (i.e.,glucometer data). methods. adolescents with type 1 diabetes (n=149) and their caregivers completed a questionnaire measure assessing adolescents' adherence (self-care inventory (sci)) to the diabetes regimen. adolescents' glucometers were downloaded to determine average blood glucose checks per day,as an objective measure of adherence. a measure of glycemic control (hemoglobin a1c (hba1c)) was obtained as part of adolescents' regular clinic visits. results. adolescents' self-reported adherence to the treatment regimen was more strongly correlated with hba1c than caregivers' reports of adherence. in multivariate analyses,both adolescents' self-report of adherence and average blood glucose checks per day (obtained via a glucometer) were significant predictors of hba1c. challenges to obtaining glucometer data were identified. conclusions. the findings highlight adolescents' self-report of adherence using the sci as a brief and meaningful measure to understand and improve adolescents' glycemic control,particularly when glucometer data is difficult to obtain. © 2017 karishma a. datye et al.