Testing for rewards: a pilot study to improve type 1 diabetes management in adolescents

• Published in: Diabetes care Vol. 38; no. 10; pp. 1952 - 1954
• Main Authors: Petry, Nancy M, Cengiz, Eda, Wagner, Julie A, Weyman, Kate, Tichy, Eileen, Tamborlane, William V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Diabetes Association 01.10.2015
• Subjects: Adolescent; Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring - methods; Child; Diabetes; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - blood; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - drug therapy; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - economics; Disease management; Female; Glucose; Glycated Hemoglobin A - metabolism; Health promotion; Humans; Hypoglycemic Agents - therapeutic use; Male; Monetary incentives; Novel Communications in Diabetes; Pilot Projects; Reward; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0149-5992; 1935-5548
• DOI: 10.2337/dc15-0765

To evaluate the effectiveness of monetary reinforcement to increase the frequency of self-monitoring blood glucose (SMBG). Ten adolescents with poorly controlled diabetes enrolled in a 12-week program in which they earned monetary reinforcers based on SMBG frequency ($0.10 per test, with bonuses for ≥4 tests per day, and $251.40 maximum). SMBG increased from 1.8 ± 1.0 to 4.9 ± 1.0 tests per day (P < 0.001) with 90% completing four or more tests per day. Mean A1C fell from 9.3 ± 0.9% to 8.4 ± 1.5% (P = 0.05). Adolescents and parents reported high satisfaction with procedures. Reinforcing adolescents for SMBG may increase testing and improve A1C.