Risk factors and predictors of uncontrolled hyperglycemia and diabetic ketoacidosis in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus in Jeddah, western Saudi Arabia

Assessing the readiness to transition to adult care, perceived medication barriers, and glycemic control among teens with type 1 diabetes

AIM

This study assessed the readiness to transition (RT) from pediatric to adult care, perceived medication barriers (PMB), and glycemic control in teens with type one diabetes (T1D).

BACKGROUND

During the transition from pediatric to adult care, teens with T1D are at risk of long-term complications related to impaired adherence. With the increasing prevalence of T1D in Saudi Arabia, research is required to identify the challenges facing teens with T1D during their transition.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study with a convenient sample of 83 adolescents (12-17 years old) diagnosed with T1D for ≥6 months, their parents, and their pediatric endocrinologists from the pediatric endocrinology clinic in a tertiary hospital in Riyadh. The RT Questionnaire was used to measure RT, and the Medication Barriers Scale was used to measure PMB. Glycemic control was measured using hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c).

RESULTS

About 96 % of teens had HbA1c > 7 %. Male teens had higher HbA1c than female teens. Teens and their parents reported high PMB and low RT. PMB (teens), disease duration, family history of diabetes mellitus, and comorbidity were significant predictors of RT (parents). PMB (teens), teens' age, and having a family history of diabetes mellitus were significant predictors of RT (providers). RT (parents) and RT (providers) were the only significant predictors of HbA1c, with RT (providers) being the strongest predictors of HbA1c.

CONCLUSIONS

Health policy reform is required to develop national RT programs to prepare teens with T1D to take full responsibility for managing their medical conditions while ensuring adherence.

Metabolic control and quality of life in type 1 diabetes: Do adherence, family support, and school support matter?

This study analyzed the relationship between clinical and demographic variables, family support, school support, and adherence on adolescents' metabolic control and quality of life (QoL) based on Adaptation to Chronic Disease in Childhood's model. The sample included 100 adolescents and 100 parents. Adolescents were assessed on adherence, family support, school support, and QoL. Parents were assessed on family functioning and parental coping. A path analysis was performed to assess the adequacy of the theoretical model to the sample. Daily glycemic monitoring was associated with better metabolic control and diabetes hospitalizations with worse metabolic control. The final model showed adherence, family support, school support, and family functioning having an indirect effect on the relationship between adolescence stage, number of daily glycemic monitorings, number of hospitalizations, and metabolic control/QoL. Adherence had an indirect effect on the relationship between glycemic monitoring and family and school support, suggesting that adolescents need both types of support to perform diabetes self-care tasks. QoL showed a direct effect on metabolic control revealing the importance of QoL in the design of interventions to promote metabolic control in adolescents.

Diabetic Ketoacidosis and its Severity Predictors in Type 1 Diabetic Children; A 10-year Experience of A Teaching Hospital in Saudi Arabia

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to determine the trend and precipitating factors of the severity of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in the population admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) in a large teaching hospital in the Eastern region of Saudi Arabia. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, analytical study at King Fahad Hospital, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Alkhobar, Saudi Arabia. We retrieved the complete medical records of 2234 children who were admitted to the PICU during the 10-year period of 2010 through 2019. The children included those with polydipsia, polyurea, abdominal pain, vomiting, dehydration, and weight loss, as well as breathing disturbances due to acidosis and CNS issues such as lethargy or coma and elevated blood glucose level, > 200 mg/dL [> 11.1 mmol/L], venous pH 7.3, serum total CO2 15 mmol/L, and blood- hydroxybutyrate concentration 3 mmol/L or moderate or severe ketonuria. RESULTS: Out of 2234 PICU admissions, 211 (9.4%) were diagnosed with DKA. A persistent increase in the rate of DKA ended up at 14.1% in 2019 (p = .005). The incidence of DKA was 88/2234 (3.93%). The severity of DKA was as follows: 130 (61.6%) had severe and 81 (38.4%) had moderate DKA. Excessive sweet intake without adding insulin in 83 (39.3%) patients and unhealthy lifestyles (35.1%) were the best predictors of severe DKA (p = .001). CONCLUSION: Over a 10-year period, the DKA pattern was persistently rising and slightly falling, which ended up at the significantly highest rate of 14.1% in 2019. URTI, pneumonia, unhealthy lifestyle, and excess sweet intake were significant precipitating factors associated with severe DKA.

Corresponding risk factors between cognitive impairment and type 1 diabetes mellitus: a narrative review

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a type of diabetes caused by the destruction of pancreatic β cells and the absolute lack of insulin secretion. T1DM usually starts in adolescence or develops directly as a severe disease state of ketoacidosis. T1DM and its complications make many people suffer and have psychological problems, which make us have to pay more attention to the prevention and early control of T1DM. Cognitive impairment (CI) is one of the major complications of T1DM. It can further develop into Alzheimer's disease, which can seriously affect the quality of life of the elderly. Furthermore, the relationship between T1DM and CI is unclear. Hence, we conducted a narrative review of the existing literature through a PubMed search. We summarized some risk factors that may be associated with the cognitive changes in T1DM patients, including onset age and duration, education and gender, glycemic states, microvascular complications, glycemic control, neuropsychology and emotion, intestinal flora, dyslipidemia, sleep quality. We aimed to provide some content related to CI in T1DM, and hoped that it could play a role in early prediction and treatment to reduce the prevalence.

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Corresponding risk factors between cognitive impairment and type 1 diabetes mellitus.

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Duration and age; Education and gender and Glycemic states.

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Diabetic ketoacidosis; Microvascular complications and Glycemic control–HbA1c.

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Neuropsychology and emotion; Intestinal flora; Dyslipidemia and Sleep Quality.

Assessment of self-monitoring of blood glucose in type 1 diabetic children and adolescents and its influence on quality of life: practice and perspective

Background

Self-monitoring blood glucose (SMBG) includes an assessment of the capillary glucose concentration as well as the interpretation of and responding to the readings. The purpose of this study was to assess patients’ compliance to self-monitoring blood glucose (SMBG), identify factors and barriers that affect it, and to correlate performance of SMBG to blood glucose monitoring and patients’ quality of life. Three hundred and thirty children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes were subjected to the following: (1) an interview pre-structured questionnaire which included personal, medical history, and details about SMBG; (2) Questionnaire about Quality of Life Index (Diabetes Version-III) by Ferrans and Powers for patients aging 10–16 years; and (3) glycated hemoglobin (HA1C) measurement.

Results

About 67% of the patients assessed their blood glucose 3 times per day, while 0.57% assessed blood glucose 7 times. The most influential factors affecting compliance of SMBG were the cost of strips and glucometers, the fear of pain and injection, psychological frustration, lack of availability of information to deal with high reading, and the absence of motivation for doing regular SMBG.

The more the frequency of SMBG daily, the better the HA1C of the patients (p < 0.01).

Adolescent patients aged 10–16 years who have more frequent SMBG and those with less HA1C have significant better quality of life (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

More frequent SMBG practice was associated with better glycemic control and better quality of life. Patients’ compliance is influenced by several factors which affect their frequency of SMBG.

Difference on the prevalence, patterns and awareness of soft drink consumption among male and female Arab students

BACKGROUND

The increase in soft drink (SD) consumption is emerging as a serious health issue. Our aim is to explore the prevalence and awareness regarding SD consumption among Saudi students.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 1000 apparently healthy Saudi students (527 males, 473 females) aged 16-23 years. A designed questionnaire including various sections was used to obtain the required information.

RESULTS

The BMI and frequency of SD consumption were significantly higher in males (P < 0.001) than females, whereas, females exhibited higher awareness and knowledge regarding SD consumption than males. The SD consumption in females was due to society, taste, availability and markets, whereas in males it was due to cheap price. Females support the implementation of new policies to prevent consumption of SD.

CONCLUSIONS

Arab students exhibited a high prevalence of SD consumption especially in males. Although females showed more awareness and knowledge about SD, various misconceptions were notable in both sexes. New policies, health promotion campaigns must be organized to raise awareness among children and parents. Parents and health educators should motivate and encourage the children to consume more water in the context of a healthy balanced diet.

Risk factors and prevention strategies for diabetic ketoacidosis in people with established type 1 diabetes

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a serious acute complication of type 1 diabetes, which is receiving more attention given the increased DKA risk associated with SGLT inhibitors. Sociodemographic and modifiable risk factors were identified with strong evidence for an increased risk of DKA, including socioeconomic disadvantage, adolescent age (13-25 years), female sex, high HbA_1c, previous DKA, and psychiatric comorbidities (eg, eating disorders and depression). Possible prevention strategies, which include the identification of people at risk based on non-modifiable sociodemographic risk factors, are proposed. As a second risk mitigation strategy, structured diabetes self-management education that addresses modifiable risk factors can be used. Evidence has found that structured education leads to reduced DKA rates. Knowledge of these risk factors and potent risk mitigation strategies are important to identify subgroups of people with an elevated DKA risk. This knowledge should also be used when adjunct therapy options with an increased DKA risk are considered. Prevention of DKA in people with type 1 diabetes is an important clinical task, which should also be addressed when SGLT inhibitors are part of therapy.

Schwann cells apoptosis is induced by high glucose in diabetic peripheral neuropathy

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is a common complication of diabetes mellitus that affects approximately half of patients with diabetes. Current treatment regimens cannot treat DPN effectively. Schwann cells (SCs) are very sensitive to glucose concentration and insulin, and closely associated with the occurrence and development of type 1 diabetic mellitus (T1DM) and DPN. Apoptosis of SCs is induced by hyperglycemia and is involved in the pathogenesis of DPN. This review considers the pathological processes of SCs apoptosis under high glucose, which include the following: oxidative stress, inflammatory reactions, endoplasmic reticulum stress, autophagy, nitrification and signaling pathways (PI3K/AKT, ERK, PERK/Nrf2, and Wnt/β-catenin). The clarification of mechanisms underlying SCs apoptosis induced by high glucose will help us to understand and identify more effective strategies for the treatment of T1DM DPN.

Pediatric diabetes in Saudi Arabia: Challenges and potential solutions. A review article

Diabetes in children has increased globally, and the World Health Organization ranks Saudi Arabia 7th in prevalence and 5th in incidence of type 1 diabetes (T1D). Type 2 diabetes (T2D) in children and adolescents has been identified in Saudi Arabia but its prevalence is still unknown. Despite advances in diabetes management including new insulins, insulin delivery systems, glucose monitoring and easy access to media for disease awareness, diabetes in children continues to be challenging in many aspects. Problems include delayed diagnosis, suboptimal glycemic control, early and late disease complications, transition from pediatric to adult care and raising of obesity and T2D, poor psychological and school support. This review summarizes the pediatric and adolescent diabetes studies in Saudi Arabia to date and explores the country-specific treatment challenges and potential solutions.

Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (Juvenile Diabetes) - A Review for the Pediatric Oral Health Provider

Objective: To describe the significance of type 1 diabetes mellitus (juvenile diabetes) to the pediatric oral health provider. Relevance: The oral health provider must be aware of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) characteristics, influence of on oral health, each patient pre-operative diabetic management, symptoms and treatment of hypo and hyper-glycemia, and the clinical implications before, during and after treatment of children with T1DM. Study design: A review of the scientific literature about the T1DM influence on dental development, caries prevalence, gingival and periodontal diseases, wound healing, salivary and taste dysfunction, oral infections, and the factors that must be taken in consideration before, during and after oral treatment of children with T1DM is presented. Conclusion: The increasing prevalence of T1DB in children strongly emphasizes the need for oral health providers to be aware of the complicacy of the treatment aimed to obtain and maintain acceptable blood glucose levels in diabetic children, the effect of diabetes on the oral cavity, the possible serious complications due to hypo- or hyper glycemia before, during and after oral treatments, the effect of stress on blood glucose levels, and the special behavioral interaction between the diabetic child, his/her family and the oral health providers.

The Role of Continuous Glucose Monitoring, Diabetes Smartphone Applications, and Self-Care Behavior in Glycemic Control: Results of a Multi-National Online Survey

Background: This study investigated the determinants (with a special emphasis on the role of diabetes app use, use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) device, and self-care behavior) of glycemic control of type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods: A web-based survey was conducted using diabetes Facebook groups, online patient-forums, and targeted Facebook advertisements (ads). Demographic, CGM, diabetes app use, and self-care behavior data were collected. Glycemic level data were categorized into hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, and good control. Multinomial logistic regression stratified by diabetes type was performed. Results: The survey URL was posted in 78 Facebook groups and eight online forums, and ten targeted Facebook ads were conducted yielding 1854 responses. Of those owning smartphones (n = 1753, 95%), 1052 (62.6%) had type 1 and 630 (37.4%) had type 2 DM. More than half of the type 1 respondents (n = 549, 52.2%) and one third the respondents with type 2 DM (n = 210, 33.3%) reported using diabetes apps. Increased odds of experiencing hyperglycemia were noted in persons with type 1 DM with lower educational status (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 1.7; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.21–2.39); smokers (1.63, 95% CI: 1.15–2.32), and high diabetes self-management concern (AOR = 2.09, 95% CI: 1.15–2.32). CGM use (AOR = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.44–1.00); “general diet” (AOR = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.79–0.94); and “blood glucose monitoring” (AOR = 0.88, 95%CI: 0.80–0.97) self-care behavior reduced the odds of experiencing hyperglycemia. Hypoglycemia in type 1 DM was reduced by using CGM (AOR = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.09–0.60), while it was increased by experiencing a high diabetes self-management concern (AOR = 1.94, 95% CI: 1.04–3.61). Hyperglycemia in type 2 DM was increased by age (OR = 1.02, 95% CI: 1.00–1.04); high self-management concern (AOR = 2.59, 95% CI: 1.74–3.84); and poor confidence in self-management capacity (AOR = 3.22, 2.07–5.00). Conversely, diabetes app use (AOR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.41–0.96) and “general diet” self-care (AOR = 0.84, 95% CI: 0.75–0.94), were significantly associated with the reduced odds of hyperglycemia. Conclusion: Diabetes apps, CGM, and educational interventions aimed at reducing self-management concerns and enhancing dietary self-care behavior and self-management confidence may help patients with diabetes to improve glycemic control.

A Systematic Review of Childhood Diabetes Research in the Middle East Region

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common chronic disorder in children and is caused by absolute or relative insulin deficiency, with or without insulin resistance. There are several different forms of childhood DM. Children can suffer from neonatal diabetes mellitus (NDM), type 1 diabetes (T1DM), type 2 diabetes (T2DM), Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY), autoimmune monogenic, mitochondrial, syndromic and as yet unclassified forms of DM. The Middle East has one of the highest incidences of several types of DM in children; however, it is unclear whether pediatric diabetes is an active area of research in the Middle East and if ongoing, which research areas are of priority for DM in children. Objectives: To review the literature on childhood DM related to research in the Middle East, summarize results, identify opportunities for research and make observations and recommendations for collaborative studies in pediatric DM. Methods: We conducted a thorough and systematic literature review by adhering to a list recommended by PRISMA. We retrieved original papers written in English that focus on childhood DM research, using electronic bibliographic databases containing publications from the year 2000 until October 2018. For our final assessment, we retrieved 429 full-text articles and selected 95 articles, based on our inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: Our literature review suggests that childhood DM research undertaken in the Middle East has focused mainly on reporting retrospective review of case notes, a few prospective case studies, systemic reviews, questionnaire-based studies, and case reports. These reported studies have focused mostly on the incidence/prevalence of different types of DM in childhood. No studies report on the establishment of National Childhood Diabetes Registries. There is a lack of consolidated studies focusing on national epidemiology data of different types of childhood DM (such as NDM, T1DM, T2DM, MODY, and syndromic forms) and no studies reporting on clinical trials in children with DM. Conclusions: Investing in and funding basic and translational childhood diabetes research and encouraging collaborative studies, will bring enormous benefits financially, economically, and socially for the whole of the Middle East region.

Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus in Saudi Arabia: A Soaring Epidemic

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is quite prevalent in the world, with a proportion of 1 in every 300 persons and steadily rising frequency of incidence of about 3% every year. More alarmingly, the incidence of T1DM among infants is also increasing, with children as young as 6 months succumbing to it, instead of that at a rather established vulnerable age of around seven and near puberty, when the hormones antagonize the action of insulin. These reports pose a unique challenge of developing efficient T1DM management system for the young children. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is the largest country in the Middle East that occupies approximately four-fifths of the Arabian Peninsula supporting a population of more than 33.3 million people, of whom 26% are under the age of 14 years. As per the Diabetes Atlas (8th edition), 35,000 children and adolescents in Saudi Arabia suffer from T1DM, which makes Saudi Arabia rank the 8th in terms of numbers of TIDM patients and 4th country in the world in terms of the incidence rate (33.5 per 100,000 individuals) of TIDM. However, in comparison with that in the developed countries, the number of research interventions on the prevalence, incidence, and the sociodemographic aspects of T1DM is woefully inadequate. In this review we discuss different aspects of T1DM in Saudi Arabia drawing on the published literature currently available.