Feeding problems reported by parents of young children with type 1 diabetes on insulin pump therapy and their associations with children’s glycemic control

  1. Susana R Patton1,*,
  2. Laura B Williams2,
  3. Lawrence M Dolan3,
  4. Ming Chen4,
  5. Scott W Powers5

Article first published online: 13 MAR 2009

DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-5448.2009.00506.x

Issue

Pediatric Diabetes

Pediatric Diabetes

Volume 10, Issue 7, pages 455–460, November 2009

Additional Information

How to Cite

Patton, S. R., Williams, L. B., Dolan, L. M., Chen, M. and Powers, S. W. (2009), Feeding problems reported by parents of young children with type 1 diabetes on insulin pump therapy and their associations with children’s glycemic control. Pediatric Diabetes, 10: 455–460. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-5448.2009.00506.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Division of Child Behavioral Health, Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases, C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

  2. 2

    Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA

  3. 3

    Division of Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA

  4. 4

    Division of Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases, C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

  5. 5

    Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA

*Susana R Patton, PhD Division of Child Behavioral Health University of Michigan 1924 Taubman Ctr SPC 5318 1500 E. Medical Center Dr Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5318 USA. Tel: 734-936-4220; fax: 734-936-6897; e-mail: susanap@med.umich.edu

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 27 OCT 2009
  2. Article first published online: 13 MAR 2009
  3. Submitted 26 November 2008. Accepted for publication 27 January 2009

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Keywords:

  • behavior;
  • glycemic control;
  • type 1 diabetes mellitus;
  • young children

Objective: Previous research demonstrated high rates of perceived mealtime behavior problems in families of young children with type 1 diabetes who were managed with conventional therapy. Because of new insulin regimens that offer greater flexibility, reexamination of mealtime behaviors is required. We assessed parent-reported mealtime behaviors in a sample of young children using an insulin pump. An additional aim was to evaluate the associations of two measures of parental feeding behavior with children’s glycemic control.

Methods: Primary caregivers of 31 young children (mean age = 5.0 ± 1.3 yr) completed the Child Feeding Questionnaire (CFQ) and the Behavioral Pediatric Feeding Assessment Scale (BPFAS). Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) was used as a surrogate marker for children’s glycemic control.

Results: Children had a mean HbA1c of 7.8 ± 0.64%. Mean CFQ – Restriction and Pressure to Eat scores were 3.1 ± 0.94 and 2.0 ± 0.88, respectively (range = 1–5). Mean BPFAS – Parent and Child scores were 16.0 ± 4.3 (range = 10–50) and 44.9 ± 9.3 (range = 25–125), respectively. Positive correlations were found between children’s HbA1c levels and caregivers’ reporting of frequency of child mealtime behavior problems.

Conclusions: Caregivers of young children on pump therapy report relatively low rates of mealtime behavior problems. However, correlations with children’s HbA1c suggest that parent–child mealtime behaviors continue to relate to children’s health outcomes. Research is needed to determine if changing mealtime interactions can improve children’s glycemic control; items from the BPFAS and CFQ can offer targets to guide interventions.

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