Self-classification as an adult in patients with type 1 diabetes: relationships with glycemic control and illness coping

Young Adults with Type 1 Diabetes

Young adults experience multiple developmental transitions across social, educational, vocational, residential, and financial life domains. These transitions are potential competing priorities to managing a chronic condition such as type 1 diabetes and can contribute to poor psychosocial and medical outcomes. In this narrative review, we describe population outcomes of young adult populations and the unique considerations associated with managing type 1 diabetes in young adulthood. We provide an overview of the current evidence-based strategies to improve care for young adults with type 1 diabetes and recommendations for future directions in the field.

Predicting Suboptimal Transitions in Adolescents With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

OBJECTIVES

Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) are at risk for disease exacerbations and increased health care utilization around the time of transition to adult care. Our aim was to identify risk factors predictive of a suboptimal transition for AYA with inflammatory bowel disease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed a retrospective chart review of patients with pediatric inflammatory bowel disease transferred to adult care from our institution in 2016 and 2017, recording demographic, psychosocial, and disease-specific data. Post-transfer data were obtained via the health care information exchange from the adult provider within our electronic medical record. We defined suboptimal transition as either a return to pediatric care or requiring care escalation within 1 year of transfer.

RESULTS

Out of 104 subjects 37 (36%) were found to have had a suboptimal transition. Our models suggest that a suboptimal transition is associated with several risk factors including any mental health diagnosis (odds ratio [OR] = 4.15; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.18-14.59), history of medication nonadherence (OR = 5.15 [95% CI: 1.52-17.42]), public insurance (OR = 6.60 [95% CI: 1.25-34.96]), higher Physician Global Assessment score at time of transition (OR = 6.64 [95% CI: 1.60-27.58], and short Pediatric Crohn Disease Activity Index scores (OR = 1.17 [95% CI: 1.03-1.33]). Higher hemoglobin levels at transition were protective (OR = 0.69 [95% CI: 0.48-0.98]). Age at time of transition, disease duration, and medication type at transition were not found to be associated with transition outcomes.

CONCLUSION

AYA with public insurance, a mental health history, medication nonadherence, and evidence of active disease may be at greater risk for suboptimal and poor health outcomes at transition.

Representations and experiences of well-being among diabetic adolescents: Relational, normative, and identity tensions in diabetes self-management

We explore representations of well-being in adolescents with Type 1 diabetes in order to better understand their expectations and needs in therapeutic patient education. In total, 28 interviews were performed and then submitted to thematic content analysis and lexicometric analysis. Results show the intervention of psychosocial processes in the relationship that adolescents maintain with well-being and self-management. More specifically, we observed that well-being is impacted by areas of tension between the expectations of adolescents and the therapeutic objectives expressed by health professionals. These tensions should be taken into account in the conception, implementation, and evaluation of therapeutic education programs.

Type 1 diabetes in young adulthood

Type 1 diabetes has traditionally been studied as a chronic illness of childhood. However, young adulthood is a critical time for the development and integration of lifelong diabetes management skills, and research is starting to identify unique challenges faced by youth with diabetes as they age into adulthood. Most young adults experience multiple transitions during this unstable developmental period, including changes in lifestyle (e.g., education, occupation, living situation), changes in health care, and shifting relationships with family members, friends, and intimate others. Young adults with type 1 diabetes must navigate these transitions while also assuming increasing responsibility for their diabetes care and overall health. Despite these critical health and psychosocial concerns, there is a notable lack of evidence-based clinical services and supports for young adults with type 1 diabetes. We review relevant evolving concerns for young adults with type 1 diabetes, including lifestyle considerations, health care transitions, psychosocial needs, and changes in supportive networks, and how type 1 diabetes impacts and is impacted by these key developmental considerations. Specific avenues for intervention and future research are offered.

Experiences of health care transition voiced by young adults with type 1 diabetes: a qualitative study

Objective

This qualitative study aimed to explore the experience of transition from pediatric to adult diabetes care reported by posttransition emerging adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D), with a focus on preparation for the actual transfer in care.

Methods

Twenty-six T1D emerging adults (mean age 26.2±2.5 years) receiving adult diabetes care at a single center participated in five focus groups stratified by two levels of current glycemic control. A multidisciplinary team coded transcripts and conducted thematic analysis.

Results

Four key themes on the process of transfer to adult care emerged from a thematic analysis: 1) nonpurposeful transition (patients reported a lack of transition preparation by pediatric providers for the transfer to adult diabetes care); 2) vulnerability in the college years (patients conveyed periods of loss to follow-up during college and described health risks and diabetes management challenges specific to the college years that were inadequately addressed by pediatric or adult providers); 3) unexpected differences between pediatric and adult health care systems (patients were surprised by the different feel of adult diabetes care, especially with regards to an increased focus on diabetes complications); and 4) patients’ wish list for improving the transition process (patients recommended enhanced pediatric transition counseling, implementation of adult clinic orientation programs, and peer support for transitioning patients).

Conclusion

Our findings identify modifiable deficiencies in the T1D transition process and underscore the importance of a planned transition with enhanced preparation by pediatric clinics as well as developmentally tailored patient orientation in the adult clinic setting.

All grown up: moving from pediatric to adult diabetes care

Transition of care from a child-centered care environment to an adult-centered care environment for pediatric patients with diabetes is needed to ensure continued diabetes care. The transition process should start early and be tailored to the developmental stage of the patient. The typical challenges of adolescence and young adulthood including pubertal changes, parent-child conflict and the potential for high-risk behavior complicate the transition process. Methods of transfer of care are variable and less than optimal. Ongoing study and continued efforts are needed to improve the transition process so that young patients with diabetes receive high quality uninterrupted care.