The relationship between blood glucose level and reading comprehension in diabetic children

The purpose of this study was to determine if blood glucose level affected reading comprehension test scores in diabetic children. This finding could possibly prevent a diabetic child from being labeled as "learning disabled." A total of nineteen fourth, fifth, and sixth grade children participated in the study. Of this nineteen, ten were girls and nine were boys. The children were attending a day camp sponsored by the American Diabetes Association. The study was conducted during two summers. Twelve subjects participated in summer one (1986) and seven participated in summer two (1987). The same procedures were followed during both summers with no subjects repeating the study. The subjects completed the Gates-MacGinitie Reading Comprehension Test immediately before their pre-lunch blood glucose test. This was done on three different days during the camp with the subjects taking a different form of the same test each day. The blood glucose check was supervised by a registered nurse but tests were done by the subjects themselves suing Glucostix and the Glucometer II system for blood glucose monitoring. Reading test scores and blood glucose levels were recorded and compared by the researcher. A scatter diagram and correlation coefficient were used to determine if a relationship existed. No control group existed since diabetic subjects were not compared with nondiabetic subjects. Data for the study were analyzed by computer. The slope of the scatter diagram showed a negative relationship existed between blood glucose level and reading comprehension test scores in diabetic children. The correlation coefficient was determined to be -.47 also suggesting a negative relationship. Based upon the findings of this study, a negative relationship existed between abnormal blood glucose levels and reading comprehension test scores in fourth, fifth, and sixth grade diabetic children.