Stability and predictors of blood glucose levels: an intra- and inter-individual analysis

Blood glucose levels were obtained for 184 individuals with insulin-dependent diabetes, who had attended a hospital clinic over a two-year period. The following explanatory variables were used to explain the data: type of injection regimen, number of injections, age at diagnosis, gender, years since diagnosis and the positive and negative factors related to six aspects of perceived locus of control. A multi-level modelling approach was used within the context of a number of structural equation models. Substantial inter-individual differences were present in the data. However, the explanatory power of the predictor variables was low, though some trends were discerned. At the intra-individual level, regular monitoring of diabetes, through attendance at outpatient clinics, had little effect on reducing blood glucose levels. Some evidence indicated an interaction effect between the positive and negative factors related to perceived control of diabetes and for higher levels of blood glucose among females in this data.