Misdiagnosis and Diabetic Ketoacidosis at Diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes: Patient and Caregiver Perspectives

Diabetic Ketoacidosis and Adverse Outcomes Among Pregnant Individuals With Pregestational Diabetes in the United States, 2010-2020

OBJECTIVE

To assess the frequency of, risk factors for, and adverse outcomes associated with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) at delivery hospitalization among individuals with pregestational diabetes (type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus) and secondarily to evaluate the frequency of and risk factors for antepartum and postpartum hospitalizations for DKA.

METHODS

We conducted a serial, cross-sectional study using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide Readmissions Database from 2010 to 2020 of pregnant individuals with pregestational diabetes hospitalized for delivery. The exposures were 1) sociodemographic and clinical risk factors for DKA and 2) DKA. The outcomes were DKA at delivery hospitalization, maternal morbidity (nontransfusion severe maternal morbidity (SMM), critical care procedures, cardiac complications, acute renal failure, and transfusion), and adverse pregnancy outcomes (preterm birth, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, and cesarean delivery) and secondarily DKA at antepartum and postpartum hospitalizations.

RESULTS

Of 392,796 deliveries in individuals with pregestational diabetes (27.2% type 1 diabetes, 72.8% type 2 diabetes), there were 4,778 cases of DKA at delivery hospitalization (89.1% type 1 diabetes, 10.9% type 2 diabetes). The frequency of DKA at delivery hospitalization was 1.2% (4.0% with type 1 diabetes, 0.2% with type 2 diabetes), and the mean annual percentage change was 10.8% (95% CI, 8.2-13.2%). Diabetic ketoacidosis at delivery hospitalization was significantly more likely among those who had type 1 diabetes compared with those with type 2 diabetes, who were younger in age, who delivered at larger and metropolitan hospitals, and who had Medicaid insurance, lower income, multiple gestations, and prior psychiatric illness. Diabetic ketoacidosis during the delivery hospitalization was associated with an increased risk of nontransfusion SMM (20.8% vs 2.4%, adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 8.18, 95% CI, 7.20-9.29), critical care procedures (7.3% vs 0.4%, aOR 15.83, 95% CI, 12.59-19.90), cardiac complications (7.8% vs 0.8%, aOR 8.87, 95% CI, 7.32-10.76), acute renal failure (12.3% vs 0.7%, aOR 9.78, 95% CI, 8.16-11.72), and transfusion (6.2% vs 2.2%, aOR 2.27, 95% CI, 1.87-2.75), as well as preterm birth (31.9% vs 13.5%, aOR 2.41, 95% CI, 2.17-2.69) and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (37.4% vs 28.1%, aOR 1.11, 95% CI, 1.00-1.23). In secondary analyses, the overall frequency of antepartum DKA was 3.1%, and the mean annual percentage change was 4.1% (95% CI, 0.3-8.6%); the overall frequency of postpartum DKA was 0.4%, and the mean annual percentage change was 3.5% (95% CI, -1.6% to 9.6%). Of 3,092 antepartum hospitalizations among individuals with DKA, 15.7% (n=485) had a recurrent case of DKA at delivery hospitalization. Of 1,419 postpartum hospitalizations among individuals with DKA, 20.0% (n=285) previously had DKA at delivery hospitalization. The above risk factors for DKA at delivery hospitalization were similar for DKA at antepartum and postpartum hospitalizations.

CONCLUSION

The frequency of DKA at delivery hospitalization and antepartum hospitalizations for DKA increased between 2010 and 2020 among deliveries in individuals with pregestational diabetes in the United States. Diabetic ketoacidosis is associated with an increased risk of maternal morbidity and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Risk factors for DKA at delivery were similar to those for DKA during the antepartum and postpartum periods.

Consensus guidance for monitoring individuals with islet autoantibody-positive pre-stage 3 type 1 diabetes

Given the proven benefits of screening to reduce diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) likelihood at the time of stage 3 type 1 diabetes diagnosis, and emerging availability of therapy to delay disease progression, type 1 diabetes screening programmes are being increasingly emphasised. Once broadly implemented, screening initiatives will identify significant numbers of islet autoantibody-positive (IAb+) children and adults who are at risk of (confirmed single IAb+) or living with (multiple IAb+) early-stage (stage 1 and stage 2) type 1 diabetes. These individuals will need monitoring for disease progression; much of this care will happen in non-specialised settings. To inform this monitoring, JDRF in conjunction with international experts and societies developed consensus guidance. Broad advice from this guidance includes the following: (1) partnerships should be fostered between endocrinologists and primary-care providers to care for people who are IAb+; (2) when people who are IAb+ are initially identified there is a need for confirmation using a second sample; (3) single IAb+ individuals are at lower risk of progression than multiple IAb+ individuals; (4) individuals with early-stage type 1 diabetes should have periodic medical monitoring, including regular assessments of glucose levels, regular education about symptoms of diabetes and DKA, and psychosocial support; (5) interested people with stage 2 type 1 diabetes should be offered trial participation or approved therapies; and (6) all health professionals involved in monitoring and care of individuals with type 1 diabetes have a responsibility to provide education. The guidance also emphasises significant unmet needs for further research on early-stage type 1 diabetes to increase the rigour of future recommendations and inform clinical care.

Consensus Guidance for Monitoring Individuals With Islet Autoantibody-Positive Pre-Stage 3 Type 1 Diabetes

Given the proven benefits of screening to reduce diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) likelihood at the time of stage 3 type 1 diabetes diagnosis, and emerging availability of therapy to delay disease progression, type 1 diabetes screening programs are being increasingly emphasized. Once broadly implemented, screening initiatives will identify significant numbers of islet autoantibody-positive (IAb+) children and adults who are at risk for (confirmed single IAb+) or living with (multiple IAb+) early-stage (stage 1 and stage 2) type 1 diabetes. These individuals will need monitoring for disease progression; much of this care will happen in nonspecialized settings. To inform this monitoring, JDRF, in conjunction with international experts and societies, developed consensus guidance. Broad advice from this guidance includes the following: 1) partnerships should be fostered between endocrinologists and primary care providers to care for people who are IAb+; 2) when people who are IAb+ are initially identified, there is a need for confirmation using a second sample; 3) single IAb+ individuals are at lower risk of progression than multiple IAb+ individuals; 4) individuals with early-stage type 1 diabetes should have periodic medical monitoring, including regular assessments of glucose levels, regular education about symptoms of diabetes and DKA, and psychosocial support; 5) interested people with stage 2 type 1 diabetes should be offered trial participation or approved therapies; and 6) all health professionals involved in monitoring and care of individuals with type 1 diabetes have a responsibility to provide education. The guidance also emphasizes significant unmet needs for further research on early-stage type 1 diabetes to increase the rigor of future recommendations and inform clinical care.

Delayed diagnosis of new onset pediatric diabetes leading to diabetic ketoacidosis: a retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES

Patients with a delayed diagnosis of diabetes are more likely to present in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence, risk factors, and consequences of missed pediatric diabetes diagnoses in emergency departments (EDs) potentially leading to DKA.

METHODS

Cases of children under 19 years old with a first-time diagnosis of diabetes mellitus presenting to EDs in DKA were drawn from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project database. A total of 11,716 cases were included. A delayed diagnosis of diabetes leading to DKA was defined by an ED discharge in the 14 days prior to the DKA diagnosis. The delayed diagnosis cases were analyzed using multivariate analysis to identify risk factors associated with delay, with the primary exposure being child opportunity index (COI) and secondary exposure being race/ethnicity. Rates of complications were compared across groups.

RESULTS

Delayed diagnosis of new onset diabetes leading to DKA occurred in 2.9 %. Delayed diagnosis was associated with COI, with 4.5 , 3.5, 1.9, and 1.5 % occurring by increasing COI quartile (p<0.001). Delays were also associated with younger age and non-Hispanic Black race. Patients with a delayed diagnosis were more likely to experience complications (4.4 vs. 2.2 %, p=0.01) including mechanical ventilation, as well as more frequent intensive care unit admissions and longer length of stays.

CONCLUSIONS

Among children with new-onset DKA, 2.9 % had a delayed diagnosis. Delays were associated with complications. Children living in areas with lower child opportunity and non-Hispanic Black children were at higher risk of delays.

Type 1 Diabetes Genetic Risk in 109,954 Veterans With Adult-Onset Diabetes: The Million Veteran Program (MVP)

OBJECTIVE

To characterize high type 1 diabetes (T1D) genetic risk in a population where type 2 diabetes (T2D) predominates.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Characteristics typically associated with T1D were assessed in 109,594 Million Veteran Program participants with adult-onset diabetes, 2011-2021, who had T1D genetic risk scores (GRS) defined as low (0 to <45%), medium (45 to <90%), high (90 to <95%), or highest (≥95%).

RESULTS

T1D characteristics increased progressively with higher genetic risk (P < 0.001 for trend). A GRS ≥90% was more common with diabetes diagnoses before age 40 years, but 95% of those participants were diagnosed at age ≥40 years, and their characteristics resembled those of individuals with T2D in mean age (64.3 years) and BMI (32.3 kg/m2). Compared with the low-risk group, the highest-risk group was more likely to have diabetic ketoacidosis (low GRS 0.9% vs. highest GRS 3.7%), hypoglycemia prompting emergency visits (3.7% vs. 5.8%), outpatient plasma glucose <50 mg/dL (7.5% vs. 13.4%), a shorter median time to start insulin (3.5 vs. 1.4 years), use of a T1D diagnostic code (16.3% vs. 28.1%), low C-peptide levels if tested (1.8% vs. 32.4%), and glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies (6.9% vs. 45.2%), all P < 0.001.

CONCLUSIONS

Characteristics associated with T1D were increased with higher genetic risk, and especially with the top 10% of risk. However, the age and BMI of those participants resemble those of people with T2D, and a substantial proportion did not have diagnostic testing or use of T1D diagnostic codes. T1D genetic screening could be used to aid identification of adult-onset T1D in settings in which T2D predominates.

Prevalence of Adult Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Related Complications in Alberta, Canada: A Retrospective, Observational Study Using Administrative Data

OBJECTIVES

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a prevalent chronic disease and a leading cause of morbidity/mortality in Canada. We evaluated the burden of T2DM in Alberta, Canada, by estimating the 5-year period prevalence of T2DM and rates of comorbidities and complications/conditions after T2DM.

METHODS

We conducted a population-based, retrospective study linking administrative health databases. Individuals with T2DM (≥18 years of age) were identified between 2008-2009 and 2018-2019 using a published algorithm, with follow-up data to March 2020. The 5-year period prevalence was estimated for 2014-2015 to 2018-2019. Individuals with newly identified T2DM, ascertained between 2010-2011 and 2017-2018 with a lookback period between 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 and a minimum 1 year of follow-up data, were evaluated for subsequent cardiovascular, diabetic, renal, and other complication/condition frequencies (%) and rates (per 100 person-years). Complications/conditions were stratified by atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) status at index and age.

RESULTS

The 5-year period prevalence of T2DM was 11,051 per 100,000 persons, with the highest prevalence in men 65 to <75 years of age. There were 195,102 individuals included in the cohort (mean age 56.7±14.7 years). The most frequently reported complications/conditions (rates per 100 person-years) were acute infection (23.10, 95% confidence interval [CI] 23.00 to 23.30), hypertension (17.30, 95% CI 16.80 to 17.70), and dyslipidemia (12.20, 95% CI 11.90 to 12.40). Individuals who had an ASCVD event/procedure and those ≥75 years of age had higher rates of complications/conditions.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that over half of the individuals had hypertension or infection after T2DM. Also, those with ASCVD had higher rates of complications/conditions. Strategies to mitigate complications/conditions after T2DM are required to reduce the burden of this disease on individuals and health-care systems.

Performance of European prediction models for classification of type 1 and type 2 diabetes in Indians

AIM

We aimed to determine the performance of European prediction models in an Indian population to classify type 1 diabetes(T1D) and type 2 diabetes(T2D).

METHODS

We assessed discrimination and calibration of published models of diabetes classification, using retrospective data from electronic medical records of 83309 participants aged 18-50 years living in India. Diabetes type was defined based on C-peptide measurement and early insulin requirement. Models assessed combinations of clinical measurements: age at diagnosis, body mass index(mean = 26.6 kg/m2), sex(male = 64.9 %), Glutamic acid decarboxylase(GAD) antibody, serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein(HDL) cholesterol.

RESULTS

67955 participants met inclusion criteria, of whom 0.8 % had T1D, which was markedly lower than model development cohorts. Model discrimination for clinical features was broadly similar in our Indian cohort compared to the European cohort: area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC ROC) was 0.90 vs. 0.90 respectively, but was lower in the subset of young participants with measured GAD antibodies(n = 2404): and an AUC ROC of 0.87 when clinical features, sex, lipids and GAD antibodies were combined. All models substantially overestimated the likelihood of T1D, reflecting the lower prevalence of T1D in the Indian population. However, good model performance was achieved after recalibration by updating the model intercept and slope.

CONCLUSION

Models for diabetes classification maintain the discrimination of T1D and T2D in this Indian population, where T2D is far more common, but require recalibration to obtain appropriate model probabilities. External validation and recalibration are needed before these tools can be used in non-European populations.

Diabetes-Focused Health Care Utilization Among Adolescents and Young Adults With Type 1 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE

To describe the current rates of health services use with various types of providers among adolescents and young adults (AYA) with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and evaluate which patient factors are associated with rates of service use from different provider types.

METHODS

Using 2012-16 claims data from a national commercial insurer, we identified 18,927 person-years of AYA with T1D aged 13 to 26 years and evaluated the frequency at which: 1) AYA skipped diabetes care for a year despite being insured; 2) received care from pediatric or non-pediatric generalists or endocrinologists if care was sought; and 3) received annual hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) testing as recommended for AYA. We used descriptive statistics and multivariable regression to examine patient, insurance, and physician characteristics associated with utilization and quality outcomes.

RESULTS

Between ages 13 and 26, the percentage of AYA with: any diabetes-focused visits declined from 95.3% to 90.3%; the mean annual number of diabetes-focused visits, if any, decreased from 3.5 to 3.0; receipt of ≥2 HbA1c tests annually decreased from 82.3% to 60.6%. Endocrinologists were the majority providers of diabetes care across ages, yet the relative proportion of AYA whose diabetes care was endocrinologist-dominated decreased from 67.3% to 52.7% while diabetes care dominated by primary care providers increased from 19.9% to 38.2%. The strongest predictors of diabetes care utilization were younger age and use of diabetes technology (pumps and continuous glucose monitors).

CONCLUSIONS

Several provider types are involved in the care of AYA with T1D, though predominate provider type and care quality changes substantially across age in a commercially-insured population.

The challenges of identifying and studying type 1 diabetes in adults

Diagnosing type 1 diabetes in adults is difficult since type 2 diabetes is the predominant diabetes type, particularly with an older age of onset (approximately >30 years). Misclassification of type 1 diabetes in adults is therefore common and will impact both individual patient management and the reported features of clinically classified cohorts. In this article, we discuss the challenges associated with correctly identifying adult-onset type 1 diabetes and the implications of these challenges for clinical practice and research. We discuss how many of the reported differences in the characteristics of autoimmune/type 1 diabetes with increasing age of diagnosis are likely explained by the inadvertent study of mixed populations with and without autoimmune aetiology diabetes. We show that when type 1 diabetes is defined by high-specificity methods, clinical presentation, islet-autoantibody positivity, genetic predisposition and progression of C-peptide loss remain broadly similar and severe at all ages and are unaffected by onset age within adults. Recent clinical guidance recommends routine islet-autoantibody testing when type 1 diabetes is clinically suspected or in the context of rapid progression to insulin therapy after a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. In this moderate or high prior-probability setting, a positive islet-autoantibody test will usually confirm autoimmune aetiology (type 1 diabetes). We argue that islet-autoantibody testing of those with apparent type 2 diabetes should not be routinely undertaken as, in this low prior-prevalence setting, the positive predictive value of a single-positive islet antibody for autoimmune aetiology diabetes will be modest. When studying diabetes, extremely high-specificity approaches are needed to identify autoimmune diabetes in adults, with the optimal approach depending on the research question. We believe that until these recommendations are widely adopted by researchers, the true phenotype of late-onset type 1 diabetes will remain largely misunderstood.

Using Clinical Vignettes to Understand the Complexity of Diagnosing Type 1 Diabetes in Sub-Saharan Africa

Lack of awareness, access to insulin and diabetes care can result in high levels of morbidity and mortality for children with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Improvements in access to insulin and diabetes management have improved outcomes in some settings. However, many people still present in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in parallel to misdiagnosis of children with T1DM in contexts with high rates of communicable diseases. The aim of this study was to highlight the complexity of diagnosing pediatric T1DM in a healthcare environment dominated by infectious diseases and lack of adequate health system resources. This was done by developing clinical vignettes and recreating the hypothetico-deductive process of a clinician confronted with DKA in the absence of identification of pathognomonic elements of diabetes and with limited diagnostic tools. A non-systematic literature search for T1DM and DKA in SSA was conducted and used to construct clinical vignettes for children presenting in DKA. A broad differential diagnosis of the main conditions present in SSA was made, then used to construct a clinician's medical reasoning, and anticipate the results of different actions on the diagnostic process. An examination of the use of the digital based Integrated Management of Childhood Illness diagnostic algorithm was done, and an analysis of the software's efficiency in adequately diagnosing DKA was assessed. The main obstacles to diagnosis were low specificity of non-pathognomonic DKA symptoms and lack of tools to measure blood or urine glucose. Avenues for improvement include awareness of T1DM symptomatology in communities and health systems, and greater availability of diagnostic tests. Through this work clinical vignettes are shown to be a useful tool in analyzing the obstacles to underdiagnosis of diabetes, a technique that could be used for other pathologies in limited settings, for clinical teaching, research, and advocacy.

The T1D Index: Implications of Initial Results, Data Limitations, and Future Development

PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW

Current global information on incidence, prevalence, and mortality of type 1 diabetes (T1D) is limited, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. To address this gap in evidence, JDRF, Life for a Child, International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes, and International Diabetes Federation have developed the T1D Index, which uses a Markov mathematical model, and machine learning and all available data to provide global estimates of the burden on T1D. This review assesses the methodology, limitations, current findings, and future directions of the Index.

RECENT FINDINGS

Global prevalence was estimated at 8.4 million in 2021, with 1.5 million <20 years (y). T1D prevalence varied from 1.5 to 534 per 100,000, with T1D accounting for <0.1-17.8% of all diabetes in different countries. A total of 35,000 young people <25 y are estimated to have died at clinical onset of T1D from non-diagnosis. An estimated 435,000 people <25 y were receiving "minimal care." Health-adjusted life years (HALYs) lost for individuals diagnosed with T1D at age 10 y in 2021 ranged from 14 to 55 y. These results show that interventions to reduce deaths from non-diagnosis, and improve access to at least an intermediate care level, are needed to reduce projected life years lost. The results have significant uncertainties due to incomplete data across the required inputs. Obtaining recent incidence, prevalence, and mortality data, as well as addressing data quality issues, misdiagnoses, and the lack of adult data, is essential for maintaining and improving accuracy. The index will be updated regularly as new data become available.

Clinical prediction models combining routine clinical measures identify participants with youth-onset diabetes who maintain insulin secretion in the range associated with type 2 diabetes: The SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study

Objective

With the high prevalence of pediatric obesity and overlapping features between diabetes subtypes, accurately classifying youth-onset diabetes can be challenging. We aimed to develop prediction models that, using characteristics available at diabetes diagnosis, can identify youth who will retain endogenous insulin secretion at levels consistent with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Methods

We studied 2,966 youth with diabetes in the prospective SEARCH study (diagnosis age ≤19 years) to develop prediction models to identify participants with fasting c-peptide ≥250 pmol/L (≥0.75ng/ml) after >3 years (median 74 months) of diabetes duration. Models included clinical measures at baseline visit, at a mean diabetes duration of 11 months (age, BMI, sex, waist circumference, HDL-C), with and without islet autoantibodies (GADA, IA-2A) and a Type 1 Diabetes Genetic Risk Score (T1DGRS).

Results

Models using routine clinical measures with or without autoantibodies and T1DGRS were highly accurate in identifying participants with c-peptide ≥0.75 ng/ml (17% of participants; 2.3% and 53% of those with and without positive autoantibodies) (area under receiver operator curve [AUCROC] 0.95-0.98). In internal validation, optimism was very low, with excellent calibration (slope=0.995-0.999). Models retained high performance for predicting retained c-peptide in older youth with obesity (AUCROC 0.88-0.96), and in subgroups defined by self-reported race/ethnicity (AUCROC 0.88-0.97), autoantibody status (AUCROC 0.87-0.96), and clinically diagnosed diabetes types (AUCROC 0.81-0.92).

Conclusion

Prediction models combining routine clinical measures at diabetes diagnosis, with or without islet autoantibodies or T1DGRS, can accurately identify youth with diabetes who maintain endogenous insulin secretion in the range associated with type 2 diabetes.

Distinct signatures of gut microbiota and metabolites in different types of diabetes: a population-based cross-sectional study

Background

Patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) present intestinal disturbances. Recent epidemiological data have showed that, worldwide, over half of newly diagnosed T1D patients were adults. However, the gut microbial alterations in adult-onset T1D are unclear. We aimed to identify the signatures of gut microbiota and metabolites in patients with adult-onset T1D systematically, comparing with T2D patients and healthy controls (HCs).

Methods

This study enrolled 218 subjects from February 2019 to April 2022 (discovery cohort: 36 HCs, 51 patients with adult-onset T1D and 56 patients with T2D; validation cohort: 28 HCs, 27 patients with adult-onset T1D and 20 patients with T2D). Gut microbial profiles of the study subjects were investigated by metagenomic sequencing, and their faecal and serum metabolites were measured with targeted metabolomics. The study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05252728).

Findings

Patients with adult-onset T1D had significant differences in the composition of bacteria and their metabolites, characterized by notable depletion of short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria, especially Eubacterium rectale. This was associated with a severe loss of phenolic acids and their derivatives, including gallic acid (associated with glucose metabolism) and 3,4-dihydroxyhydrocinnamic acid (linked with glucose metabolism and pancreatic beta cell autoimmunity). A predictive model based on six bacteria and six metabolites simultaneously discriminated adult-onset T1D from T2D and HCs with high accuracy. Interestingly, bacterial-viral or bacterial-fungal trans-kingdom relationships, especially positive correlations between bacteriophages and beneficial bacteria, were significantly reduced in adult-onset T1D compared to HCs.

Interpretation

Adult-onset T1D patients exhibit unique changes in host-microbiota-metabolite interactions. Gut microbiota and metabolite-based algorithms could be used as additional tools for differential diagnosis of different types of diabetes and beyond.

Funding

National Key Research and Development Program of China, the National Natural Science Foundation of China.

Reclassification of type 2 diabetes to type 1 diabetes in Asturias (Spain) between 2011 and 2020

BACKGROUND

Differentiating between type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) can be difficult in adults. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of diagnostic reclassification from T2D to T1D, the characteristics of the patients and the impact on the management of the disease.

METHODS

Observational and descriptive study including patients diagnosed with T1D in Asturias (Spain) between 2011 and 2020 who had been considered as T2D for at least 12 months.

RESULTS

A total of 205 patients were included, representing 45.3% of those diagnosed with T1D over 30 years of age. Median time of evolution as T2D was 7,8 years. The age was 59.1 ± 12.9 years. BMI was > 25 kg/m² in 46.8% of patients. HbA1c was 9.1 ± 2.1%, 77 ± 22 mmol/mol, and 56.5% were using insulin. Pancreatic antibodies were present in 95.5%, the most frequent being GAD, 82.6%. At 6 months, basal insulin use increased from 46.9 to 86.3%, and HbA1c decreased, 9.2 ± 2.0%vs7.7 ± 1.2%, 77 ± 22vs60 ± 13 mmol/mol; p < 0.0001.

CONCLUSIONS

Diagnosis as T2D in patients with T1D in adults is common. Age, BMI, insulin use and other clinical features are not definitely discriminatory. GAD is the antibody of choice in case of diagnostic suspect. Reclassification has important implications for metabolic control.

Delayed Management of Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus in Children

INTRODUCTION

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a common presentation for pediatric new-onset insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). Delayed diagnosis is the major risk factor for DKA at disease onset.

METHOD

Two pediatric endocrinologists independently reviewed the admission records to assess the appropriateness of preadmission management in various health care settings.

RESULTS

Eighteen percent (n = 45) of patients with new-onset IDDM had a delayed diagnosis. Twenty-eight were misdiagnosed (respiratory [n = 9], nonspecific [n = 7], genitourinary [n = 4], gastrointestinal [n = 8] issues) and 17 were mismanaged. One child died within 4 hr of hospitalization, presumably because of a hyperosmolar coma. Forty-six percent (n = 21) of patients with delayed diagnosis presented with DKA, comprising 18% of all DKA cases.

DISCUSSION

A significant number of patients with new-onset IDDM were either misdiagnosed or mismanaged. All providers must be appropriately trained in diagnosing new-onset IDDM and follow the standard of clinical care practices.

Identifying type 1 and 2 diabetes in research datasets where classification biomarkers are unavailable: assessing the accuracy of published approaches

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to compare the performance of approaches for classifying insulin-treated diabetes within research datasets without measured classification biomarkers, evaluated against two independent biological definitions of diabetes type.

STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING

We compared accuracy of ten reported approaches for classifying insulin-treated diabetes into type 1 (T1D) and type 2 (T2D) diabetes in two cohorts: UK Biobank (UKBB) n = 26,399 and Diabetes Alliance for Research in England (DARE) n = 1,296. The overall performance for classifying T1D and T2D was assessed using: a T1D genetic risk score and genetic stratification method (UKBB); C-peptide measured at >3 years diabetes duration (DARE).

RESULTS

Approaches' accuracy ranged from 71% to 88% (UKBB) and 68% to 88% (DARE). When classifying all participants, combining early insulin requirement with a T1D probability model (incorporating diagnosis age and body image issue [BMI]), and interview-reported diabetes type (UKBB available in only 15%) consistently achieved high accuracy (UKBB 87% and 87% and DARE 85% and 88%, respectively). For identifying T1D with minimal misclassification, models with high thresholds or young diagnosis age (<20 years) had highest performance. Findings were incorporated into an online tool identifying optimum approaches based on variable availability.

CONCLUSION

Models combining continuous features with early insulin requirement are the most accurate methods for classifying insulin-treated diabetes in research datasets without measured classification biomarkers.

Factors Associated With Diabetic Ketoacidosis at Onset of Type 1 Diabetes Among Pediatric Patients: A Systematic Review

IMPORTANCE

Presenting with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) at onset of type 1 diabetes (T1D) remains a risk. Following a 2011 systematic review, considerable additional articles have been published, and the review required updating.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate factors associated with DKA at the onset of T1D among pediatric patients.

EVIDENCE REVIEW

In this systematic review, PubMed, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, Web of Science, and article reference lists were searched using the population, intervention, comparison, outcome search strategy for primary research studies on DKA and T1D onset among individuals younger than 18 years that were published from January 2011 to November 2021. These studies were combined with a 2011 systematic review on the same topic. Data were pooled using a random-effects model.

FINDINGS

A total of 2565 articles were identified; 149 were included, along with 46 from the previous review (total 195 articles). Thirty-eight factors were identified and examined for their association with DKA at T1D onset. Factors associated with increased risk of DKA were younger age at T1D onset (<2 years vs ≥2 years; odds ratio [OR], 3.51; 95% CI, 2.85-4.32; P < .001), belonging to an ethnic minority population (OR, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.21-0.74; P = .004), and family history of T1D (OR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.37-0.57; P < .001), consistent with the 2011 systematic review. Some factors that were not associated with DKA in the 2011 systematic review were associated with DKA in the present review (eg, delayed diagnosis: OR, 2.27; 95% CI, 1.72-3.01; P < .001). Additional factors associated with risk of DKA among patients with new-onset T1D included participation in screening programs (OR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.21-0.59; P < .001) and presentation during the COVID-19 pandemic (OR, 2.32; 95% CI, 1.76-3.06; P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

In this study, age younger than 2 years at T1D onset, belonging to an ethnic minority population, delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis, and presenting during the COVID-19 pandemic were associated with increased risk of DKA. Factors associated with decreased risk of DKA included greater knowledge of key signs or symptoms of DKA, such as a family history of T1D or participation in screening programs. Future work should focus on identifying and implementing strategies related to these factors to reduce risk of DKA among new patients with T1D.

Routine Islet Autoantibody Testing in Clinically Diagnosed Adult-Onset Type 1 Diabetes Can Help Identify Misclassification and the Possibility of Successful Insulin Cessation

OBJECTIVE

Recent joint American Diabetes Association and European Association for the Study of Diabetes guidelines recommend routine islet autoantibody testing in all adults newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. We aimed to assess the impact of routine islet autoantibody testing in this population.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We prospectively assessed the relationship between islet autoantibody status (GADA, IA-2A, and ZNT8A), clinical and genetic characteristics, and progression (annual change in urine C-peptide-to-creatinine ratio [UCPCR]) in 722 adults (≥18 years old at diagnosis) with clinically diagnosed type 1 diabetes and diabetes duration <12 months. We also evaluated changes in treatment and glycemia over 2 years after informing participants and their clinicians of autoantibody results.

RESULTS

Of 722 participants diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, 24.8% (179) were autoantibody negative. This group had genetic and C-peptide characteristics suggestive of a high prevalence of nonautoimmune diabetes: lower mean type 1 diabetes genetic risk score (islet autoantibody negative vs. positive: 10.85 vs. 13.09 [P < 0.001] [type 2 diabetes 10.12]) and lower annual change in C-peptide (UCPCR), -24% vs. -43% (P < 0.001).After median 24 months of follow-up, treatment change occurred in 36.6% (60 of 164) of autoantibody-negative participants: 22.6% (37 of 164) discontinued insulin, with HbA1c similar to that of participants continuing insulin (57.5 vs. 60.8 mmol/mol [7.4 vs. 7.7%], P = 0.4), and 14.0% (23 of 164) added adjuvant agents to insulin.

CONCLUSIONS

In adult-onset clinically diagnosed type 1 diabetes, negative islet autoantibodies should prompt careful consideration of other diabetes subtypes. When routinely measured, negative antibodies are associated with successful insulin cessation. These findings support recent recommendations for routine islet autoantibody assessment in adult-onset type 1 diabetes.

Estimating the total incidence of type 1 diabetes in children and adolescents aged 0-19 years from 1990 to 2050: a global simulation-based analysis

BACKGROUND

Previous studies of type 1 diabetes in childhood and adolescence have found large variations in reported incidence around the world. However, it is unclear whether these reported incidence levels are impacted by differences in country health systems and possible underdiagnosis and if so, to what degree. The aim of this study was to estimate both the total and diagnosed incidence of type 1 diabetes globally and to project childhood type 1 diabetes incidence indicators from 1990 to 2050 for each country.

METHODS

We developed the type 1 diabetes global microsimulation model to simulate the natural history and diagnosis of type 1 diabetes for children and adolescents (aged 0-19 years) in 200 countries and territories, accounting for variability in underlying incidence and health system performance. The model follows an open population of children and adolescents in monthly intervals and simulates type 1 diabetes incidence and progression, as well as health system factors which influence diagnosis. We calibrated the model to published data on type 1 diabetes incidence, autoantibody profiles, and proportion of cases diagnosed with diabetic ketoacidosis from 1990 to 2020 and assessed the predictive accuracy using a randomly sampled test set of data withheld from calibration.

FINDINGS

We estimate that in 2021 there were 355 900 (95% UI 334 200-377 300) total new cases of type 1 diabetes globally among children and adolescents, of which 56% (200 400 cases, 95% UI 180 600-219 500) were diagnosed. Estimated underdiagnosis varies substantially by region, with over 95% of new cases diagnosed in Australia and New Zealand, western and northern Europe, and North America, but less than 35% of new cases diagnosed in west Africa, south and southeastern Asia, and Melanesia. The total number of incident childhood cases of type 1 diabetes is projected to increase to 476 700 (95% UI 449 500-504 300) in 2050.

INTERPRETATION

Our research indicates that the total global incidence of childhood and adolescent type 1 diabetes is larger than previously estimated, with nearly one-in-two children currently undiagnosed. Policymakers should plan for adequate diagnostic and medical capacity to improve timely type 1 diabetes detection and treatment, particularly as incidence is projected to increase worldwide, with highest numbers of new cases in Africa.

FUNDING

Novo Nordisk.

Variation in the incidence of type 1 diabetes mellitus in children and adolescents by world region and country income group: A scoping review

INTRODUCTION

Around 18.7 million of the 537 million people with diabetes worldwide live in low-income and middle-income countries (LMIC), where there is also an increase in the number of children, adolescents, and young adults diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D). There are substantial gaps in data in the current understanding of the epidemiological patterns and trends in incidence rates of T1D at the global level.

METHODS

We performed a scoping review of published studies that established the incidence of T1D in children, adolescents, and young adults aged 0-25 years at national and sub-national levels using PubMed, Embase and Global Health. Data was analyzed using R programming.

RESULTS

The scoping review identified 237 studies which included T1D incidence estimates from 92 countries, revealing substantial variability in the annual incidence of T1D by age, geographic region, and country-income classification. Highest rates were reported in the 5-9 and 10-14 year age groups than in the 0-4 and 15-19 year age groups, respectively. In the 0-14 year age group, the highest incidence was reported in Northern Europe (23.96 per 100,000), Australia/New Zealand (22.8 per 100,000), and Northern America (18.02 per 100,000), while the lowest was observed in Melanesia, Western Africa, and South America (all < 1 per 100,000). For the 0-19 year age group, the highest incidence was reported in Northern Europe (39.0 per 100,000), Northern America (20.07 per 100,000), and Northern Africa (10.1 per 100,000), while the lowest was observed in Eastern and Western Africa (< 2 per 100,000). Higher incidence rates were observed in high-income countries compared to LMICs. There was a paucity of published studies focusing on determining the incidence of T1D in LMICs.

CONCLUSION

The review reveals substantial variability in incidence rates of T1D by geographic region, country income group, and age. There is a dearth of information on T1D in LMICs, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where incidence remains largely unknown. Investment in population-based registries and longitudinal cohort studies could help improve the current understanding of the epidemiological trends and help inform health policy, resource allocation, and targeted interventions to enhance access to effective, efficient, equitable, and responsive healthcare services.

COVID-19 induced Diabetes: A novel presentation

INTRODUCTION

The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected patients who had comorbid diabetes mellitus. COVID-19 patients with diabetes experience significantly higher rates of complications and mortality. COVID-induced diabetes is a novel phenomenon observed in critically ill patients. The aims of this review were to explore the literature about COVID-induced diabetes and the pathophysiological mechanisms that could lead to this novel presentation.

METHODS

A literature search was performed using PUBMED, Google Scholar, MEDLINE and Embase for original studies (meta-analyses, cross-sectional studies, case series, case reports) about new-onset diabetes following COVID infection, and the proposed biochemical pathways behind this presentation. It was assumed that the authors of the studies used the current diagnostic criteria for diagnosis of type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

RESULTS

COVID-19 causes dysregulation of glucose homeostasis leading to new-onset diabetes and hyperglycaemia. This is also seen in patients with no previous risk factors for diabetes mellitus. The atypical glycaemic parameters and increased rates of DKA suggest that COVID-induced diabetes is a novel form of diabetes. A spectrum of COVID-induced diabetes has also been noted. COVID-induced diabetes is associated with remarkably higher mortality rates and worse outcomes compared to COVID-19 patients with pre-existing diabetes. The novel presentation of COVID-induced diabetes could be due to beta cell damage and insulin resistance caused by SARS-CoV-2.

CONCLUSION

COVID-induced diabetes is essential to detect early, owing to its implications on prognosis. Further studies must include follow-up of these patients to better understand the trajectory of COVID-induced diabetes and the best management plan. It is also important to assess the beta cell function and insulin resistance of COVID-induced diabetes patients over time to better understand the underlying biochemical mechanisms.

Predicting misdiagnosed adult-onset type 1 diabetes using machine learning

AIMS

It is now understood that almost half of newly diagnosed cases of type 1 diabetes are adult-onset. However, type 1 and type 2 diabetes are difficult to initially distinguish clinically in adults, potentially leading to ineffective care. In this study a machine learning model was developed to identify type 1 diabetes patients misdiagnosed as type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, a machine learning model was developed to identify misdiagnosed type 1 diabetes patients from a population of patients with a prior type 2 diabetes diagnosis. Using Ambulatory Electronic Medical Records (AEMR), features capturing relevant information on age, demographics, risk factors, symptoms, treatments, procedures, vitals, or lab results were extracted from patients' medical history.

RESULTS

The model identified age, BMI/weight, therapy history, and HbA1c/blood glucose values among top predictors of misdiagnosis. Model precision at low levels of recall (10 %) was 17 %, compared to <1 % incidence rate of misdiagnosis at the time of the first type 2 diabetes encounter in AEMR.

CONCLUSIONS

This algorithm shows potential for being translated into screening guidelines or a clinical decision support tool embedded directly in an EMR system to reduce misdiagnosis of adult-onset type 1 diabetes and implement effective care at the outset.

Frequency of Ketoacidosis at Diagnosis of Pediatric Type 1 Diabetes Associated With Socioeconomic Deprivation and Urbanization: Results From the German Multicenter DPV Registry

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether socioeconomic deprivation and urbanization are associated with the frequency of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) at diagnosis of pediatric type 1 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Children and adolescents aged ≤18 years, living in Germany, with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes documented between 2016 and 2019 in the Diabetes Prospective Follow-up Registry (DPV; Diabetes-Patienten-Verlaufsdokumentation), were assigned to a quintile of regional socioeconomic deprivation (German Index of Socioeconomic Deprivation) and to a degree of urbanization (Eurostat) by using their residence postal code. With multiple logistic regression models, we investigated whether the frequency of DKA at diagnosis was associated with socioeconomic deprivation or urbanization and whether associations differed by age-group, sex, or migration status.

RESULTS

In 10,598 children and adolescents with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes, the frequency of DKA was lowest in the least deprived regions (Q1: 20.6% [95% CI 19.0-22.4], and increased with growing socioeconomic deprivation to 26.9% [25.0-28.8] in the most deprived regions [Q5]; P for trend <0.001). In rural areas, the frequency of DKA at diagnosis was significantly higher than in towns and suburbs (intermediate areas) or in cities (27.6% [95% CI 26.0-29.3] vs. 22.7% [21.4-24.0], P < 0.001, or vs. 24.3% [22.9-25.7], P = 0.007, respectively). The results did not significantly differ by age-group, sex, or migration background or after additional adjustment for socioeconomic deprivation or urbanization.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides evidence that prevention of DKA at diagnosis by means of awareness campaigns and screening for presymptomatic type 1 diabetes should particularly target socioeconomically disadvantaged regions and rural areas.

The Incidence of Adult-Onset Type 1 Diabetes: A Systematic Review From 32 Countries and Regions

BACKGROUND

The epidemiology of adult-onset type 1 diabetes (T1D) incidence is not well-characterized due to the historic focus on T1D as a childhood-onset disease.

PURPOSE

We assess the incidence of adult-onset (≥20 years) T1D, by country, from available data.

DATA SOURCES

A systematic review of MEDLINE, Embase, and the gray literature, through 11 May 2021, was undertaken.

STUDY SELECTION

We included all population-based studies reporting on adult-onset T1D incidence and published from 1990 onward in English.

DATA EXTRACTION

With the search we identified 1,374 references of which 46 were included for data extraction. Estimates of annual T1D incidence were allocated into broad age categories (20-39, 40-59, ≥60, or ≥20 years) as appropriate.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Overall, we observed the following patterns: 1) there is a paucity of data, particularly in low- and middle-income countries; 2) the incidence of adult-onset T1D is lowest in Asian and highest in Nordic countries; 3) adult-onset T1D is higher in men versus women; 4) it is unclear whether adult-onset T1D incidence declines with increasing age; and 5) it is unclear whether incidence of adult-onset T1D has changed over time.

LIMITATIONS

Results are generalizable to high-income countries, and misclassification of diabetes type cannot be ruled out.

CONCLUSIONS

From available data, this systematic review suggests that the incidence of T1D in adulthood is substantial and highlights the pressing need to better distinguish T1D from T2D in adults so that we may better assess and respond to the true burden of T1D in adults.

Practical Clinical Applications of Islet Autoantibody Testing in Type 1 Diabetes

BACKGROUND

The distinction between type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) is extremely important for the choice of therapy, body weight and dietary management, screening for coexistent autoimmune diseases and comorbidities, anticipated prognosis, and risk assessment in relatives. Not uncommonly, the presentation of the patient may not allow an unambiguous discrimination between T1D and T2D. To help resolve this challenge, the detection of islet autoantibodies can support the diagnosis of T1D.

CONTENT

The presence of islet autoantibodies in a person with diabetes indicates an autoimmune etiology therefore establishing the diagnosis of T1D. Presently 5 islet autoantibodies are available for routine clinical use: islet cell cytoplasmic autoantibodies (ICA), insulin autoantibodies (IAA), glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibodies (GADA), insulinoma associated-2 autoantibodies (IA-2A), and zinc transporter-8 autoantibodies (ZnT8A). There are caveats to the selection of which islet autoantibodies should be measured. Islet autoantibodies can also predict the development of T1D. Therefore, once safe and effective therapies are available to prevent T1D, islet autoantibody testing is expected to become a routine part of medical practice. A very rare cause of autoimmune diabetes is the type B insulin resistance syndrome resulting from antagonistic autoantibodies to the insulin receptor. Rarely hypoglycemia can result from agonistic insulin receptor autoantibodies, or high-titer IAA causing the autoimmune insulin syndrome (i.e., Hirata disease).

SUMMARY

In summary, autoimmune causes of dysglycemia are increasing in clinical importance requiring the scrutiny of laboratorians. The determination of islet autoantibodies can greatly aid in the diagnosis and the prediction of T1D.

The Changing Face of Pediatric Diabetes: How the Pandemic Brought an Epidemic to Light

Editor's Note: This article is adapted from a speech Dr. Muñoz delivered in June 2021 as President, Health Care & Education of the American Diabetes Association. She delivered her address at the Association's 81st Scientific Sessions, which was held online as a result of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. A webcast of this speech is available for viewing at https://bit.ly/3rk3Esp.

Replacing insulin with immunotherapy: Time for a paradigm change in Type 1 diabetes

For almost a hundred years, the management of Type 1 diabetes has not advanced beyond insulin replacement. However, insulin does not provide satisfactory glycaemic control in the majority of individuals and there remains a major unmet need for novel treatments for Type 1 diabetes. Immunomodulation to preserve beta-cell function offers the prospect of making treatment with insulin easier and/or preventing the need for insulin, particularly when it comes to novel low-risk immunotherapies. Led by the concept that the best insulin-producing cell is a patient's own beta-cell, the Type 1 diabetes scientific community has a challenging task ahead-to fundamentally change the management of this devastating disease by using low-risk immunotherapy to preserve endogenous beta-cell function and make metabolic control substantially easier. In that way, insulin and/or beta-cell replacement (stem cell or transplantation) should in the future be considered rescue therapies reserved for delayed presentations.

The management of type 1 diabetes in adults. A consensus report by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD)

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) convened a writing group to develop a consensus statement on the management of type 1 diabetes in adults. The writing group has considered the rapid development of new treatments and technologies and addressed the following topics: diagnosis, aims of management, schedule of care, diabetes self-management education and support, glucose monitoring, insulin therapy, hypoglycaemia, behavioural considerations, psychosocial care, diabetic ketoacidosis, pancreas and islet transplantation, adjunctive therapies, special populations, inpatient management and future perspectives. Although we discuss the schedule for follow-up examinations and testing, we have not included the evaluation and treatment of the chronic microvascular and macrovascular complications of diabetes as these are well-reviewed and discussed elsewhere. The writing group was aware of both national and international guidance on type 1 diabetes and did not seek to replicate this but rather aimed to highlight the major areas that healthcare professionals should consider when managing adults with type 1 diabetes. Though evidence-based where possible, the recommendations in the report represent the consensus opinion of the authors. Graphical abstract.

The Management of Type 1 Diabetes in Adults. A Consensus Report by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD)

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) convened a writing group to develop a consensus statement on the management of type 1 diabetes in adults. The writing group has considered the rapid development of new treatments and technologies and addressed the following topics: diagnosis, aims of management, schedule of care, diabetes self-management education and support, glucose monitoring, insulin therapy, hypoglycemia, behavioral considerations, psychosocial care, diabetic ketoacidosis, pancreas and islet transplantation, adjunctive therapies, special populations, inpatient management, and future perspectives. Although we discuss the schedule for follow-up examinations and testing, we have not included the evaluation and treatment of the chronic microvascular and macrovascular complications of diabetes as these are well-reviewed and discussed elsewhere. The writing group was aware of both national and international guidance on type 1 diabetes and did not seek to replicate this but rather aimed to highlight the major areas that health care professionals should consider when managing adults with type 1 diabetes. Though evidence-based where possible, the recommendations in the report represent the consensus opinion of the authors.

Adult-Onset Type 1 Diabetes: Current Understanding and Challenges

Recent epidemiological data have shown that more than half of all new cases of type 1 diabetes occur in adults. Key genetic, immune, and metabolic differences exist between adult- and childhood-onset type 1 diabetes, many of which are not well understood. A substantial risk of misclassification of diabetes type can result. Notably, some adults with type 1 diabetes may not require insulin at diagnosis, their clinical disease can masquerade as type 2 diabetes, and the consequent misclassification may result in inappropriate treatment. In response to this important issue, JDRF convened a workshop of international experts in November 2019. Here, we summarize the current understanding and unanswered questions in the field based on those discussions, highlighting epidemiology and immunogenetic and metabolic characteristics of adult-onset type 1 diabetes as well as disease-associated comorbidities and psychosocial challenges. In adult-onset, as compared with childhood-onset, type 1 diabetes, HLA-associated risk is lower, with more protective genotypes and lower genetic risk scores; multiple diabetes-associated autoantibodies are decreased, though GADA remains dominant. Before diagnosis, those with autoantibodies progress more slowly, and at diagnosis, serum C-peptide is higher in adults than children, with ketoacidosis being less frequent. Tools to distinguish types of diabetes are discussed, including body phenotype, clinical course, family history, autoantibodies, comorbidities, and C-peptide. By providing this perspective, we aim to improve the management of adults presenting with type 1 diabetes.

Diabetic Ketoacidosis at Manifestation of Type 1 Diabetes in Childhood and Adolescence

BACKGROUND

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a potentially life-threatening metabolic disorder that can occur with manifestation of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D). The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence of DKA at the time of the diagnosis of T1D in childhood and adolescence, the risk factors, and regional approaches to reduce the incidence of ketoacidosis.

METHODS

We investigated the proportion of patients under 18 years of age with DKA (defined as pH <7.3, severe DKA pH <7.1) at the manifestation of T1D in Germany in the period 2000-2019, based on data from the German-Austrian registry of diabetes (Diabetes-Patienten-Verlaufsdokumentation, DPV). The influence of the following factors was evaluated: year of manifestation, age, sex, family history of migration (MiH), and distance from the hospital. Moreover, data from the region with and the region without a pilot screening project from 2015 onwards were compared.

RESULTS

Of the 41 189 patients with manifestation of T1D, 19.8% presented with DKA (n = 8154, slight increase [p <0.001] over the study period) and 6.1% (n = 2513) had severe DKA. Children under 6 years of age had DKA more often than adolescents (12-17 years) (21.7% versus 18.6%, OR 1.22 {95% CI: [1.14; 1.30]}). Girls had a higher rate of DKA than boys (20.5% versus 19.2%, OR 1.10 [1.03; 1.14]), and patients with MiH were more likely to have DKA than those without MiH (21.4% versus 18.2%, OR 1.40 [1.32; 1.48]). In the region with a pilot screening project, the DKA rate stayed the same, at 20.6%, while in the control region the rate was 22.7% with a decreasing tendency.

CONCLUSION

The frequency of DKA at the time of diagnosis of T1D did not decrease between 2000 and 2019 and increased towards the end of the observation period. Children with MiH, children under 6, and girls were at a higher risk of DKA.

[Is it possible to prevent diabetic ketoacidosis at diagnosis of pediatric type 1 diabetes? Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic]

Hintergrund

Die diabetische Ketoacidose (DKA) ist ein lebensbedrohlicher Notfall bei Manifestation eines Diabetes mellitus Typ 1 (DM1) bei Kindern und Jugendlichen, häufig bei verspäteter Diagnosestellung oder vorheriger Fehldiagnose. Während der Zeit des „Coronavirus-disease-2019(COVID-19)-Lockdowns“ in Deutschland stellten sich weniger Patienten in Notfallambulanzen und Arztpraxen vor.

Fragestellung

Hat sich der Anteil der DKA bei Manifestation eines DM1 in der pädiatrischen Population in diesem Zeitraum verändert, und welche Gruppen sind besonders gefährdet, eine DKA zu erleiden?

Material und Methoden

Die DKA-Häufigkeit in der Zeit vom 13.03.2020 bis 13.05.2020 wurde bei Patienten <18 Jahren mit DM1-Manifestation in pädiatrischen Diabeteszentren untersucht. Die Diabeteszentren dokumentierten ihre Einschätzung, ob durch COVID-19 die Vorstellung verzögert war. Um den Einfluss von Risikofaktoren auf die DKA-Häufigkeit zu analysieren, erfolgte ein Vergleich der Daten aus dem Jahr 2020 mit denselben Zeiträumen der Jahre 2018 und 2019 mit linearen und logistischen Regressionsmodellen.

Ergebnisse

Die Daten von 532 Patienten aus 216 Diabeteszentren zeigten, dass das Risiko für eine DKA im Vergleich zu den Jahren 2018/2019 um 84,7 % und für eine schwere DKA um 45,3 % erhöht war. Kinder <6 Jahren waren mit einer Steigerung einer DKA um 141,6 % bzw. einer schweren DKA um 97,0 % besonders betroffen. Migrationshintergrund war ein COVID-19-unabhängiger Risikofaktor. Insgesamt wurden 31 % der Patienten verspätet vorgestellt, oder ihre Diagnose wurde zuvor verkannt.

Diskussion

In der Zeit des „COVID-19-Lockdowns“ war die Häufigkeit der DKA bei DM1-Manifestation für Kinder und Jugendliche signifikant erhöht. Alter <6 Jahre, Migrationshintergrund und verzögerte Vorstellung waren die Hauptrisikofaktoren.

Is Misdiagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus in Malaysian Children a Common Phenomenon?

BACKGROUND

Children with Type 1 diabetes (T1DM) commonly present in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) at initial diagnosis. This is likely due to several factors, one of which includes the propensity for T1DM to be misdiagnosed. The prevalence of misdiagnosis has been reported in non-Asian children with T1DM but not in Asian cohorts.

AIM

To report the rate of misdiagnosis and its associated risk factors in Malaysian children and adolescents with T1DM.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of children with T1DM below 18 years of age over a 10 year period was conducted.

RESULTS

The cohort included 119 children (53.8% female) with a mean age 8.1 SD ± 3.9 years. 38.7% of cases were misdiagnosed, of which respiratory illnesses were the most common (37.0%) misdiagnosis. The rate of misdiagnosis remained the same over the 10 year period. Among the variables examined, younger age at presentation, DKA at presentation, healthcare professional (HCP) contact and admission to the intensive care unit were significantly different between the misdiagnosed and correctly diagnosed groups (p <0.05).

CONCLUSION

Misdiagnosis of T1DM occurs more frequently in Malaysian children <5 years of age. Misdiagnosed cases are at a higher risk of presenting in DKA with increased risk of ICU admission and more likely to have had prior HCP contact. Awareness of T1DM amongst healthcare professionals is crucial for early identification, prevention of DKA and reducing rates of misdiagnosis.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with diabetic ketoacidosis of different severity

To analyze the influencing factors and outcomes of the different severity of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).A total of 50 children with DKA admitted to the Department of Pediatrics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital from January 2009 to December 2018 were included in this study. The patients were divided into mild group, moderate group, and severe group according to the severity of the disease. We then analyzed the clinical characteristics and outcomes of the 3 groups.Compared to mild and moderate DKA groups, patients with severe DKA were more likely to present chest tightness, and higher levels of blood osmotic pressure, urea, and creatinine (P < .05). Logistic regression analysis showed that blood osmotic pressure, creatinine, and chest tightness were independent factors for severity of DKA. There was a significant difference in the resolution time of DKA among the 3 groups (mild vs moderate: 9.0 hours vs 15.25 hours; moderate vs severe: 15.25 hours vs 24.5 hours, P < .001). There were statistical differences in the decline of Glasgow score among 3 groups (P = .004).Patients with severe DKA showed higher osmotic pressure and creatinine, as well as dyspnea. The children with severe DKA were more likely to present progression of neurological symptoms, which was necessary to pay attention to the presence of brain edema.

Preeclampsia and other pregnancy outcomes in nulliparous women with type 1 diabetes: a retrospective survey

Obstetric complications are more common in women with diabetes than in the general population. This study aimed to learn about the first pregnancy of women with type 1 diabetes from the perspective of women from T1D Exchange-Glu and the T1D Exchange Clinic Registry. Participants were ≥18, diagnosed with type 1 diabetes before conception, and either currently pregnant or had given birth in the preceding 10 years. The final sample size was 533 women. Women who planned pregnancy had significantly lower HbA1c (A1c) at conception. Women who had higher A1cs at conception were at a higher risk for cesarean birth, increased weight gain, hypoglycemia during pregnancy, and earlier onset of preeclampsia. Overall 29% of women developed preeclampsia in this population, over seven times the rate in the general population. This study helps to expand our knowledge of women with type 1 diabetes during the perinatal period. Planning pregnancy, expanding education and support, and preventing preeclampsia may help to improve pregnancy outcomes.

Significant reduction of ketoacidosis at diabetes onset in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes-The Stuttgart Diabetes Awareness Campaign, Germany

BACKGROUND

To prevent the potentially life-threatening complication, diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) at type 1 diabetes onset in children and adolescents, awareness campaigns can lead to a significant reduction of DKA. As in Germany, the incidence of DKA at diabetes onset had remained at a constant rate over the last 15 years and increasing numbers of very young children present with higher risk for DKA we decided to set up the Stuttgart Ketoacidosis Awareness Campaign.

METHODS

Over 3 years (2015-2017) the campaign was conducted using information flyers and posters illustrating the typical symptoms of diabetes at school entry health examinations at the Public Health Department, in day-care facilities, in all pediatric practices and by regular public activities. The period between 2011 and 2013 was selected as a reference period.

RESULTS

Approximately 17 000 children, median age 4.5 years, and their families were informed about the campaign during the preschool health examination. A total of 118 children and adolescents were treated with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes compared with 127 during the reference period. During the campaign the incidence of DKA decreased significantly from 28% to 16%.

CONCLUSIONS

Awareness campaigns like the Stuttgart Ketoacidosis Awareness Campaign about the typical clinical symptoms of type 1 diabetes can significantly reduce the risk for DKA at diabetes onset. Important factors for the success of our campaign were the close cooperation between the children's hospital and the public health department, the targeted approach of families, teachers, and pediatricians and the duration of the campaign over 3 years.

Fluid management in children with diabetic ketoacidosis

QUESTION

Previous research has indicated that rapid rehydration in children with type 1 diabetes who present with diabetic ketoacidosis could result in cerebral edema. I have been treating patients with diabetic ketoacidosis with gradual fluid replacement. With the risk of cerebral injury in these patients, should I continue management with slow fluid rehydration?

ANSWER

Recent research has shown that neither fluid infusion rate nor sodium chloride concentration increases risk of cerebral injury. However, it is possible for subtle brain injury to occur during treatment, regardless of the fluid administration strategy. The 2018 International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes guidelines have been updated in light of this research.