Abstract
Blood Glucose Discrimination Training in Insulin-dependent Diabetics Through External Cues and Glycemic Profiles. Six insulin-dependent diabetic patients (range 15-22 years old) participated in a blood glucose levels (BGL) discrimination program based on an External Cues Training using glycemic profiles in order to reduce their estimation errors and to improve their diabetic control. A multiple baseline design was used and the results showed the External Cues Training increased the subjects' accuracy in estimating their BGL, and several indexes of diabetic control improved. After follow-up, all patients reduced their estimation errors in a range 50-92% with respect to their BGL estimations. Furthermore, their average daily BGL also was reduced as well as the percentage of hyperglucemic trials through the different phases of the study. Glycosylated hemoglobin values from the beginning to the end of the study reduced in a range 0,51- 6,47%. These data indicates the indirect effect of training over the diabetic control which may have likely produced the occurrence of positive changes in the treatment adherence in all the patients. Results confirm those of previous studies that used the same discrimination procedure, however the present data suggest the use of glycemic profiles produce better discrimination of BGL and better diabetic control along with least therapeutic cost.
