The Relationship Between the Frequency of Self-Monitoring of Blood Sugar and Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in Children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus
Natalia Devina Hakim1, Nur Rochmah2*
Abstract
Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by pancreatic β-cell destruction and chronic hyperglycemia. Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose (SMBG) is essential for daily glycemic regulation, yet its impact on long-term outcomes such as Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) remains unclear in pediatric populations. This cross-sectional study involved 38 children with T1DM recruited through consecutive sampling from IKADAR East Java to examine the association between SMBG frequency and HbA1c levels. SMBG frequency (times/day) and the most recent HbA1c value (%) were obtained through structured interviews and medical records. Statistical analyses (Shapiro–Wilk, Spearman correlation, Chi-square, and Mann–Whitney U tests) showed a weak, non-significant negative correlation between SMBG frequency and HbA1c (rs = –0.165; p = 0.323), with no significant differences across SMBG categories. These findings indicate that SMBG frequency alone is not associated with improved HbA1c in children with T1DM, suggesting that glycemic control may depend more on insulin adherence, caregiver support, and access to continuous glucose monitoring technologies.
Keywords
type 1 diabetes mellitus; HbA1c; SMBG; blood glucose monitoring; children
Cite This Article
Hakim, N. D., Rochmah, N. (2025). The Relationship Between the Frequency of Self-Monitoring of Blood Sugar and Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in Children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. International Journal of Scientific Advances (IJSCIA), Volume 6| Issue 6: Nov – Dec 2025, Pages 1240-1246 URL: https://www.ijscia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Volume6-Issue6-Nov-Dec-No.1000-1240-1246.pdf
Volume 6 | Issue 6: Nov – Dec 2025
