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Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the devastating 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake on the glycemic control of children with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) in Adana, Turkey. Additionally, the study aimed to assess the impact of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) device assistance on glycemic control after the earthquake.
Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted involving 134 children with T1DM receiving intensive insulin treatment. Participants were divided into 2 groups: CGM (+) (n = 58), who benefited from CGM device assistance, and CGM (−) (n = 76), who did not utilize CGM device after the earthquake. Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels were recorded before and after the earthquake.
Results: Following the earthquake, the median HbA1c for all participants changed insignificantly from 8.9% to 8.6% (P = .491). However, in the CGM (+) group, HbA1c levels significantly improved post earthquake (P = .001). Conversely, the CGM (−) group experienced a deterioration in glycemic control (P = .027). A 2-way repeated measures ANOVA revealed a significant interaction effect between CGM device usage and the earthquake on HbA1c levels (F = 17.257, P < .001). Subgroup analysis based on age indicated that the effectiveness of CGM was more pronounced in adolescents (≥12 years) than in younger children (<12 years).
Conclusion: This study highlights the adverse impact of the earthquake on glycemic control in children with T1DM and underscores the effectiveness of CGM in improving glycemic control, particularly among adolescents. The provision of CGM devices following the earthquake led to enhanced outcomes, mitigating the negative effects of the disaster on glycemic control.
Cite this article as: Tarçın G, Dilek SÖ, Kılıç S, Ata A. Effect of continuous glucose monitoring device assistance on glycemic control of 2023 Kahramanmaraş doublet earthquake survivors with type 1 diabetes in Adana, Turkey. Turk Arch Pediatr. 2023;58(6):653-657.