Increasing incidence of type 1 diabetes in youth: twenty years of the Philadelphia Pediatric Diabetes Registry

Differential item functioning of the revised Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure (MEIM-R) in racially and income diverse youth with type 1 diabetes

OBJECTIVE

Racially minoritized youth with T1D are made vulnerable to disproportionately adverse health outcomes compared to White peers due to enduring systems of oppression. Thus, understanding modifiable psychosocial factors associated with diabetes-related outcomes in racially minoritized youth may help to buffer deleterious effects of racism. One factor meriting exploration is racial-ethnic identity. There is currently limited research on measures fit to assess ethnic identity in youth with chronic illnesses. This study's purpose is to examine the factor structure, reliability, and validity of the revised Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure (MEIM-R) in a racially- and income-diverse sample of youth with T1D across sociodemographic and illness-related proxies for one's positionality in oppressive systems.

METHOD

As part of a larger study examining resilience, 142 youth with T1D ages 12-18 (Mage = 14.66, SDage = 1.62, 55.6% Black/African-American, 44.4% White) completed the MEIM-R and various psychosocial measures. HbA1c levels and illness duration were extracted from medical records and caregivers reported income information. Confirmatory factor analyses compared the structural validity of competing MEIM-R models, and uniform and non-uniform differential item functioning (DIF) was explored across sociodemographic and illness-related factors.

RESULTS

While a bifactor structure was supported, the MEIM-R was found to exhibit DIF by race and gender on multiple MEIM-R items and did not demonstrate linear bivariate relations with other psychosocial factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Since different MEIM-R item response patterns were observed across racial/ethnic and gender groups, caution is warranted in using this measure in racially and gender diverse youth with T1D.

Epidemiology of type 1 diabetes mellitus in children and adolescents: A 50-year, single-center experience

BACKGROUND

Global variations in epidemiology of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) exist. This study is designed to examine demographic and clinical features of T1DM over the past 3 decades as well as evolving trends in epidemiology over last 50 years.

METHODS

Clinical characteristics of 925 patients with T1DM over last 30 years (1990-2019) were evaluated and compared to previously published data of 477 patients diagnosed between 1969 and 1990 from one of the major referral centers for diabetes in Turkey.

RESULTS

Mean age at diagnosis decreased from 9.5 ± 4.0 to 7.1 ± 3.6 years within the past 50 years (p < .001). Age at diagnosis peaked at 12-14 years between 1969 and 1990, then fell to 10-11.9 years between 1990 and 1999, and to 4-5.9 years between 2000-2009 and 2010-2019 (p = .005). Although the percentage of patients diagnosed <6 years of age is gradually increasing, the percentage between the ages of 6 and 11.9 years is decreasing, and the percentage diagnosed ≥12 years remained stable. A total of 47.5% of patients had ketoacidosis, 38.2% had ketosis, and 14.3% had only hyperglycemia. 23% of patients had severe diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), whereas 42% had moderate. Over last 3 decades, there has been no change in frequency of ketoacidosis at presentation, but there has been significant decline in severity (p = .865, and p < .001, respectively). Although the frequency of patients with mild DKA increased over time, frequency of patients with moderate DKA decreased; however, no significant difference was observed among patients with severe ketoacidosis. DKA was more frequent and severe in patients <6 years of age (p = .005, and p < .001, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Age at diagnosis shifted to younger ages in T1DM in the past 50 years. Half of patients had ketoacidosis at diagnosis and frequency of presentation with DKA did not decrease, but severity decreased slightly. Increase in prevalence of T1DM in the younger age group and the fact that half of patients present with DKA indicate that awareness should be increased in terms of early diagnosis and treatment.

5. Facilitating Positive Health Behaviors and Well-being to Improve Health Outcomes: Standards of Care in Diabetes-2024

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) "Standards of Care in Diabetes" includes the ADA's current clinical practice recommendations and is intended to provide the components of diabetes care, general treatment goals and guidelines, and tools to evaluate quality of care. Members of the ADA Professional Practice Committee, an interprofessional expert committee, are responsible for updating the Standards of Care annually, or more frequently as warranted. For a detailed description of ADA standards, statements, and reports, as well as the evidence-grading system for ADA's clinical practice recommendations and a full list of Professional Practice Committee members, please refer to Introduction and Methodology. Readers who wish to comment on the Standards of Care are invited to do so at professional.diabetes.org/SOC.

Interventions Across the Translational Research Spectrum: Addressing Disparities Among Racial and Ethnic Minoritized Youth with Type 1 Diabetes

Racial and ethnic minoritized youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D) are at elevated risk for health disparities. Few intervention studies have been conducted for these youth and evidence to support best practices to address their needs is lacking. Existing evidence supports the use of brief trials of diabetes technology with structured support from clinic staff, culturally tailored interventions such as language-congruent clinical care, and use of community health workers as promising directions to improve health outcomes. Clinicians and researchers should work collaboratively with community members to improve the quality of T1D intervention science for racial and ethnic minoritized youth.

The Psychological Burden of Families with Diabetic Children: A Literature Review Focusing on Quality of Life and Stress

Chronic diseases, such as childhood diabetes mellitus (DM), are a complex and continuous struggle as well as a great challenge both for the children who face the disease and for their parents. DM is characterized by the complex management of therapeutic treatments, thus causing physical and psychological complications infamily members. There are many families who, upon hearing the diagnosis of their child with DM, stand still in front of these new facts as their lives change. All these unprecedented conditions cause parents intense stress and discomfort, leading them to a mental burden, as the only thing that concerns them upon diagnosis is how the family will survive in the face of the current conditions they are experiencing as well as the future of the sick child. The purpose of this brief literature review is to present the research findings related to the psychological burden of families withchildren with DM, focusing on the quality of life and stress.

Incidence of Childhood Type 1 Diabetes in Beijing During 2011-2020 and Predicted Incidence for 2025-2035: A Multicenter, Hospitalization-Based Study

INTRODUCTION

China has a low incidence of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM); however, based on the large population, the absolute numbers are high. Our aim was to assess the incidence of childhood T1DM in Beijing during 2011-2020, predicted incidence for 2025-2035, and to determine the incidence of diabetic ketosis or diabetic ketoacidosis (DK/DKA) in this population.

METHODS

Data on patients aged less than 15 years of age with newly diagnosed T1DM between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2020 was obtained from five tertiary hospitals in Beijing and retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

In all, 636 children aged less than 15 years were diagnosed with T1DM during 2011-2020. The incidence of T1DM was 3.11-5.46 per 100,000 per year, with an average increase of 5.10% per year. The age-specific incidence for ages 0-4 years, 5-9 years, and 10-14 years was 2.97, 4.69, and 4.68 per 100,000 per year, respectively. The highest average annual increase (7.07%) in incidence was for the youngest age group. DK or DKA was present at the time of diagnosis of T1DM in 84.6% of patients. The age-specific incidence of T1DM among children aged less than 15 years was predicted to be 7.32, 11.4, and 11.52 per 100,000 in 2035 for ages 0-4 years, 5-9 years, and 10-14 years, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The was a gentle increase in the incidence of childhood T1DM during 2011-2020 in Beijing. This increase is expected to continue for the next 15 years.

5. Facilitating Positive Health Behaviors and Well-being to Improve Health Outcomes: Standards of Care in Diabetes-2023

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) "Standards of Care in Diabetes" includes the ADA's current clinical practice recommendations and is intended to provide the components of diabetes care, general treatment goals and guidelines, and tools to evaluate quality of care. Members of the ADA Professional Practice Committee, a multidisciplinary expert committee, are responsible for updating the Standards of Care annually, or more frequently as warranted. For a detailed description of ADA standards, statements, and reports, as well as the evidence-grading system for ADA's clinical practice recommendations and a full list of Professional Practice Committee members, please refer to Introduction and Methodology. Readers who wish to comment on the Standards of Care are invited to do so at professional.diabetes.org/SOC.

The Beneficial Effects of a Multispecies Probiotic Supplement on Glycaemic Control and Metabolic Profile in Adults with Type 1 Diabetes: A Randomised, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Pilot-Study

OBJECTIVE

In this pilot-study, the effects of a multispecies probiotic supplement on glycaemic control and metabolic parameters in adults with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) were explored.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A total of 50 T1DM patients were enrolled and randomly placed into a group receiving capsules containing multi-probiotic strains (Bifidobacterium longum, Lactobacterium bulagricumi, Streptococcus thermophilus) and insulin (probiotics group, n = 27) or a group receiving a placebo and insulin (placebo group, n = 23). All patients underwent continuous glucose monitoring at baseline and 12 weeks after intervention. The primary outcomes were determined by comparing factors such as changes in fasting blood glucose (FBG) and haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) between the groups.

RESULTS

Probiotic supplementation significantly reduced FBG (-1.0 ± 4.7 vs 1.8 ± 4.7 mmol/L, p = 0.048), 30 min postprandial glucose (-0.5 ± 4.6 vs 1.9 ± 3.3 mmol/L, p = 0.0495), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (-0.07 ± 0.45 vs 0.32 ± 0.78 mmol/L, p = 0.0413), compared with the placebo. Although not statistically significant, probiotic supplementation also lowered HbA1c levels by 0.49% (-5.33 mmol/mol, p = 0.310). Besides, no significant difference was observed in the continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) parameters between the two groups. Further subgroup analysis revealed a significant reduction in mean sensor glucose (MSG; -0.75 (-2.11, 0.48) mmol/L vs 1.51 (-0.37, 2.74) mmol/L, p = 0.010) and time above range (TAR; -5.47 (-20.1, 3.04)% vs 18.9 (-1.11, 35.6)%, p = 0.006), as well as an greater improvement in the time in range (TIR; 9.32 (-4.84, 16.6)% vs -19.9 (-31.4, 0.69)%, p = 0.005) in male patients than female patients in the probiotics group.

CONCLUSION

Multispecies probiotics exerted beneficial effects on fasting and postprandial glucose and lipid profiles in adult T1DM patients, especially for male patients and those with higher baseline FBG levels.

Efficacy and safety of ultra-rapid lispro versus lispro in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes: The PRONTO-Peds trial

AIMS

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ultra-rapid lispro (URLi) versus lispro in a paediatric population with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in a Phase 3, treat-to-target study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

After a 4-week lead-in to optimize basal insulin, participants were randomized to double-blind URLi (n = 280) or lispro (n = 298) injected 0 to 2 minutes prior to meals (mealtime), or open-label URLi (n = 138) injected up to 20 minutes after start of meals (postmeal). Participants remained on pre-study basal insulin (degludec, detemir or glargine). The primary endpoint was glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) change from baseline after 26 weeks (noninferiority margin 4.4 mmol/mol [0.4%]).

RESULTS

Both mealtime and postmeal URLi demonstrated noninferiority to lispro for HbA1c: estimated treatment difference (ETD) for mealtime URLi -0.23 mmol/mol (95% confidence interval [CI] -1.84, 1.39) and postmeal URLi -0.17 mmol/mol (95% CI -2.15, 1.81). Mealtime URLi reduced 1-hour postprandial glucose (PPG) daily mean (P = 0.001) and premeal to 1 hour postmeal PPG excursion daily mean (P < 0.001) versus lispro. The rate and incidence of severe, nocturnal or documented hypoglycaemia (<3.0 mmol/L [54 mg/dL]) were similar for all treatments. With mealtime URLi versus lispro, the rate of postdose hypoglycaemia (<3.0 mmol/L) was higher at ≤2 hours (P = 0.034). The incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events was similar for all treatments. More participants reported an injection site reaction with mealtime URLi (7.9%) versus postmeal URLi (2.9%) and lispro (2.7%).

CONCLUSIONS

In children and adolescents with T1D, URLi demonstrated good glycaemic control, and noninferiority to lispro in HbA1c change for mealtime and postmeal URLi. When dosed at the beginning of meals, URLi reduced 1-hour PPG and PPG excursions versus lispro.

Polygenic autoimmune disease risk alleles impacting B cell tolerance act in concert across shared molecular networks in mouse and in humans

Most B cells produced in the bone marrow have some level of autoreactivity. Despite efforts of central tolerance to eliminate these cells, many escape to periphery, where in healthy individuals, they are rendered functionally non-responsive to restimulation through their antigen receptor via a process termed anergy. Broad repertoire autoreactivity may reflect the chances of generating autoreactivity by stochastic use of germline immunoglobulin gene segments or active mechanisms may select autoreactive cells during egress to the naïve peripheral B cell pool. Likewise, it is unclear why in some individuals autoreactive B cell clones become activated and drive pathophysiologic changes in autoimmune diseases. Both of these remain central questions in the study of the immune system(s). In most individuals, autoimmune diseases arise from complex interplay of genetic risk factors and environmental influences. Advances in genome sequencing and increased statistical power from large autoimmune disease cohorts has led to identification of more than 200 autoimmune disease risk loci. It has been observed that autoantibodies are detectable in the serum years to decades prior to the diagnosis of autoimmune disease. Thus, current models hold that genetic defects in the pathways that control autoreactive B cell tolerance set genetic liability thresholds across multiple autoimmune diseases. Despite the fact these seminal concepts were developed in animal (especially murine) models of autoimmune disease, some perceive a disconnect between human risk alleles and those identified in murine models of autoimmune disease. Here, we synthesize the current state of the art in our understanding of human risk alleles in two prototypical autoimmune diseases – systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and type 1 diabetes (T1D) along with spontaneous murine disease models. We compare these risk networks to those reported in murine models of these diseases, focusing on pathways relevant to anergy and central tolerance. We highlight some differences between murine and human environmental and genetic factors that may impact autoimmune disease development and expression and may, in turn, explain some of this discrepancy. Finally, we show that there is substantial overlap between the molecular networks that define these disease states across species. Our synthesis and analysis of the current state of the field are consistent with the idea that the same molecular networks are perturbed in murine and human autoimmune disease. Based on these analyses, we anticipate that murine autoimmune disease models will continue to yield novel insights into how best to diagnose, prognose, prevent and treat human autoimmune diseases.

Quality of Life and Psychological Burden of Parents of Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults with Type 1 Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional Study during the Lockdown Period of COVID-19

The current study aimed to investigate how parents of children, adolescents, and young adults with DM1 perceived quality of life and psychological burden during the lockdown period of COVID-19. A cross-sectional study was carried out on 110 parents in Greece in spring 2021. Perceived quality of life was measured using the Parent Diabetes Distress Scale, and psychological burden was measured using the Spielberger State/Trait Anxiety Inventory, and both were assessed with correlational analysis. Overall, 79.1% of the parents were females ,while the mean age of all was 44.4 years (±5.8). PDDS was found to be moderate (mean 2.42 ± 0.76): 63.6% of respondents had moderate/high distress. The highest mean score was for Teen Management Distress and the lowest for Healthcare Team (3.02 vs. 1.49, p < 0.001). STAI was found to be moderate to high, with a higher mean score for state versus trait anxiety (49.8 vs. 48.0, p = 0.006). Increased distress or poorer parents’ quality of life was related with the highest number of hyperglycemic episodes (β = 0.25, p = 0.002), the fewest hypoglycemic episodes (β = −0.18, p = 0.024), and the highest parental trait anxiety (β = 0.04, p < 0.001). Parents were found with moderate-to-high distress and anxiety, and their correlation also shows that there is an urgent need for suitable education of parents on managing the disease to improve quality of life and eliminate health risks to all involved.

Trends in type 1 diabetes diagnosis in Ghana

BACKGROUND

Despite the fact that the rate of type 1 diabetes (T1D) is increasing worldwide, there exists a dearth of information on the disease in most sub-Saharan African countries. The goal of this study was to determine the enrolment trend of T1D using data compiled over 28 y from a teaching hospital in Kumasi, Ghana.

METHODS

Information collected included sex, age at diagnosis and date of T1D diagnosis. We identified trends from 1992 to 2018, divided into 3 y intervals.

RESULTS

From 1992 to 2018, 1717 individuals with T1D were enrolled in the diabetes clinic at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. The male:female ratio was 1:1.2. The number of individuals diagnosed with T1D decreased among the 10-19 y age group during the 1992-1994 period, followed by a progressive increase within the same age group during the subsequent period (from 35.4% in 1995-1997 to 63.2% in 2016-2018). There was a decline in the proportion of children 0-9 y of age diagnosed during the study period (from 5.1% in 1992-1994 to 3.6% in 2016-2018).

CONCLUSIONS

In our study population, a decreasing trend of T1D enrolments was observed in general while among adolescents an increasing trend was observed.

Temporal Trends for Diabetes Management and Glycemic Control Between 2010 and 2019 in Korean Children and Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes

Purpose: There is increasing use of modern devices in the management of patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D). We investigated temporal trends for diabetes management and outcomes in Korean pediatric T1D patients over 10 years. Methods: We retrospectively collected the data from 752 participants (boys: 311, 41.4%) diagnosed with T1D and aged ≤18 years, with ≥1 year of follow-up between 2010 and 2019 in any of the seven study hospitals in Korea. Results: Over the 10-year study period, use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) increased from 1.4% to 39.3%. From 2010 to 2019, there was an increased use of multiple daily insulin injections (MDI; 63.9%-77.0%, respectively) and continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII; 2.1%-14.0%, respectively), but decreased use of conventional insulin therapy (CIT, 33.9%-9.0%, respectively). Mean glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) decreased from 8.56% to 8.01% (P < 0.001) and was lower in younger patients, boys, and CGM users (P < 0.001). MDI and CSII users had lower mean HbA1c levels than CIT users (P = 0.003). Regarding the acute complications of T1D, CGM use was associated with lower incidences of diabetic ketoacidosis (P = 0.015); CSII users were likely to experience less severe hypoglycemia (P = 0.008). Conclusions: The use of CSII and CGM increased ∼7- and 30-fold, respectively, over the 10-year study period. The glycemic control of pediatric T1D patients in Korea improved from 2010 to 2019, probably because of increased use of T1D technologies.

5. Facilitating Behavior Change and Well-being to Improve Health Outcomes: Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes-2022

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) "Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes" includes the ADA's current clinical practice recommendations and is intended to provide the components of diabetes care, general treatment goals and guidelines, and tools to evaluate quality of care. Members of the ADA Professional Practice Committee, a multidisciplinary expert committee (https://doi.org/10.2337/dc22-SPPC), are responsible for updating the Standards of Care annually, or more frequently as warranted. For a detailed description of ADA standards, statements, and reports, as well as the evidence-grading system for ADA's clinical practice recommendations, please refer to the Standards of Care Introduction (https://doi.org/10.2337/dc22-SINT). Readers who wish to comment on the Standards of Care are invited to do so at professional.diabetes.org/SOC.

Physical Activity Surveillance in Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes: A Pilot Mixed-Methods Investigation

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) affects over 2,500 children in Ireland. Insulin replacement is the mainstay of treatment for T1D, and physical activity (PA) is an important, modifiable lifestyle factor for sustaining health. Surveillance of PA for both research and clinical purposes in paediatric T1D has been limited. This study deployed both quantitative (accelerometry) and qualitative (self-report) measures to assess habitual PA patterns in children with T1D. Twenty-one participants (9 females, 12 males) between 10 and 17 years (mean 13.7 ± 1.94 years) were recruited from an Outpatients Paediatric Diabetes Clinic. Total steps, standing time (minutes (mins)) and sitting time (mins) were recorded using the activPAL 3 microactivity monitor. Clinical parameters (HbA1c, insulin regimen, and weight centiles) were measured. A self-report diary was used to measure perceived activity levels. The findings of this study show that participant children with T1D are not achieving the required steps per day to sustain physical health (recommended minimum 11,500). Females (mean = 7,306 steps ± 5,468) achieved significantly less (p = 0.001) steps per day compared to males (10,806 steps ± 5,904). No significant differences were found between genders for sitting time or standing time. Overweight or obesity was identified in 44% of female participants and 15% of male participants. Mean HbA1c for both females 8.25% (67 mmol/mol) and males 7.97% (64 mmol/mol) was above the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD) recommended <7.0% (53 mmol/mol) for children. Further research is warranted to investigate PA promotion strategies in populations of children with paediatric T1D.

Influence of social determinants of health barriers to family management of type 1 diabetes in Black single parent families: A mixed methods study

OBJECTIVE

US disparities in pediatric type 1 diabetes treatment and outcomes are increasing disproportionately among Black youth and compounded for youth from single parent homes. Despite worsened outcomes, Black youth from single parent homes and their caregivers are underrepresented in pediatric type 1 diabetes research. The purpose of this study was to understand the social determinants of health (SDOH) barriers that may contribute to health disparities and family management in Black youth with type 1 diabetes from single parent homes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

A three-phase mixed methods study with self-identified Black single parents of youth with type 1 diabetes from an urban US pediatric diabetes center was conducted. Focus groups and interviews informed development of a parent-generated survey of SDOH barriers to diabetes management. Survey results are presented.

RESULTS

A resulting 71 item parent-generated survey was administered to 105 parents. Among all items, most problematic SDOH barriers included lack of social support, managing parent/child diabetes-related stress, difficulties accessing diabetes supplies, pain management, cost of food and diabetes camp, need to take time off from work, lack of skilled school staff, school absences and unsafe neighborhoods. Structural racism related to child welfare reporting, and police targeting were also notable concerns.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a critical need for clinical, community, and policy-related research and interventions, designed to reduce type 1 diabetes racial health disparities by addressing the impacts of SDOH as drivers of family management outcomes among Black youth from single parent families.

Growth and development of islet autoimmunity and type 1 diabetes in children genetically at risk

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

We aimed to evaluate the relationship between childhood growth measures and risk of developing islet autoimmunity (IA) and type 1 diabetes in children with an affected first-degree relative and increased HLA-conferred risk. We hypothesised that being overweight or obese during childhood is associated with a greater risk of IA and type 1 diabetes.

METHODS

Participants in a randomised infant feeding trial (N = 2149) were measured at 12 month intervals for weight and length/height and followed for IA (at least one positive out of insulin autoantibodies, islet antigen-2 autoantibody, GAD autoantibody and zinc transporter 8 autoantibody) and development of type 1 diabetes from birth to 10-14 years. In this secondary analysis, Cox proportional hazard regression models were adjusted for birthweight and length z score, sex, HLA risk, maternal type 1 diabetes, mode of delivery and breastfeeding duration, and stratified by residence region (Australia, Canada, Northern Europe, Southern Europe, Central Europe and the USA). Longitudinal exposures were studied both by time-varying Cox proportional hazard regression and by joint modelling. Multiple testing was considered using family-wise error rate at 0.05.

RESULTS

In the Trial to Reduce IDDM in the Genetically at Risk (TRIGR) population, 305 (14.2%) developed IA and 172 (8%) developed type 1 diabetes. The proportions of children overweight (including obese) and obese only were 28% and 9% at 10 years, respectively. Annual growth measures were not associated with IA, but being overweight at 2-10 years of life was associated with a twofold increase in the development of type 1 diabetes (HR 2.39; 95% CI 1.46, 3.92; p < 0.001 in time-varying Cox regression), and similarly with joint modelling.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

In children at genetic risk of type 1 diabetes, being overweight at 2-10 years of age is associated with increased risk of progression from multiple IA to type 1 diabetes and with development of type 1 diabetes, but not with development of IA. Future studies should assess the impact of weight management strategies on these outcomes.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00179777.

Impact of Obesity on Measures of Cardiovascular and Kidney Health in Youth With Type 1 Diabetes as Compared With Youth With Type 2 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE

Insulin resistance and obesity are independently associated with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and are known risk factors for cardiovascular and kidney diseases, the leading causes of death in T1D. We evaluated the effect of BMI on cardiovascular and kidney outcomes in youth with T1D versus control youth with normal weight or obesity and youth with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Pubertal youth (n = 284) aged 12-21 years underwent assessments of resting heart rate (RHR), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), leptin, hs-CRP, adiponectin, ratio of urine albumin to creatinine, and estimated glomerular filtration rate. Participants with T1D underwent bicycle ergometry for VO₂peak, monitoring for peripheral brachial artery distensibility (BAD), endothelial function testing for reactive hyperemic index, and aortic MRI for central arterial stiffness or shear.

RESULTS

In adolescents with T1D, RHR, SBP, DBP, mean arterial pressure, leptin, hs-CRP, and hypertension prevalence were significantly higher, and BAD, descending aorta pulse wave velocity, and VO₂peak lower with an obese versus normal BMI. Although hypertension prevalence and RHR were highest in obese adolescents with T1D and adiponectin lowest in youth with T2D, other measures were similar between obese adolescents with T1D and those with T2D.

CONCLUSIONS

Obesity, now increasingly prevalent in people with T1D, correlates with a less favorable cardiovascular and kidney risk profile, nearly approximating the phenotype of youth with T2D. Focused lifestyle management in youth-onset T1D is critically needed to reduce cardiovascular risk.

Racial disparities in treatment and outcomes of children with type 1 diabetes

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to assess racial disparities in treatments and outcomes between Non-Hispanic black (NHB), Hispanic and Non-Hispanic white (NHW) children with type 1 diabetes (T1D).

METHODS

We reviewed electronic health records of children (<18 years) attending a large, pediatric tertiary care diabetes center in the United States between October 1, 2018, and December 31, 2019. Health care utilization (appointment attendance, ED visits, hospitalizations), technology use (insulin pumps, continuous glucose monitors [CGM]) and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) were examined for each race/ethnicity and stratified by insurance type (private/government) as a proxy for socioeconomic status (SES).

RESULTS

Of 1331 children (47% female) with a median (IQR) age of 14.2 (11.5, 16.3) years and T1D duration of 5.8 (3.8, 9) years; 1026 (77%) were NHW, 198 (15%) NHB, and 107 (8%) Hispanic. Government insurance was used by 358 (27%) children, representing 60% of NHB and 53% of Hispanic, but only 18% of NHW children. NHB children had higher HbA1c, more ED visits and hospitalizations, and were less likely to be treated with insulin pumps or CGM than NHW children (P < .001 for all). There were no racial disparities with regard to the number of appointments attended.

CONCLUSIONS

Racial disparities in technology use and diabetes outcomes persist in children with T1D, regardless of insurance status. To ensure equitable care, pediatric healthcare providers should remain cognizant of racial disparities in diabetes treatment. The impact of provider and patient factors should be explored when studying the etiology of these health disparities.

5. Facilitating Behavior Change and Well-being to Improve Health Outcomes: Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes-2021

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) "Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes" includes the ADA's current clinical practice recommendations and is intended to provide the components of diabetes care, general treatment goals and guidelines, and tools to evaluate quality of care. Members of the ADA Professional Practice Committee, a multidisciplinary expert committee (https://doi.org/10.2337/dc21-SPPC), are responsible for updating the Standards of Care annually, or more frequently as warranted. For a detailed description of ADA standards, statements, and reports, as well as the evidence-grading system for ADA's clinical practice recommendations, please refer to the Standards of Care Introduction (https://doi.org/10.2337/dc21-SINT). Readers who wish to comment on the Standards of Care are invited to do so at professional.diabetes.org/SOC.

Heart Rate Variability and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Non-Hispanic Black Versus Non-Hispanic White Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes

BACKGROUND

Evidence indicates that fewer non-Hispanic black versus non-Hispanic white youths with type 1 diabetes are meeting treatment goals for optimal glycemic outcomes, predisposing them to risks for cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality in adulthood.

PURPOSE

We sought to assess the association of sex and race with heart rate variability (HRV) and cardiorespiratory fitness in adolescents with type 1 diabetes. The association between the HRV and cardiorespiratory outcomes with glucose control was also examined.

METHODS

A secondary data analysis of 95 adolescents with type 1 diabetes (n = 66 non-Hispanic white n = 29 non-Hispanic black) was used. Using 24-hour Holter recordings, spectral and time domain measures of HRV were obtained. Cardiorespiratory fitness using a graded exercise test was completed. Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation coefficients were used to assess associations between glucose control and study outcomes, and general linear models were applied to explore and quantify associations of sex and race with HRV and cardiorespiratory fitness.

RESULTS

Body mass index (mean [standard deviation]) was similar between non-Hispanic black (23.5 [3.9]) and non-Hispanic white (22.7 [3.8]) adolescents. Females and non-Hispanic black adolescents had significantly lower HRV and cardiorespiratory fitness levels. Moderate associations were found between lower HRV and poorer glycemic control (HbA1c). Recent HbA1c was significantly higher in non-Hispanic black (9.7 [1.8]) than non-Hispanic white (8.2 [1.2]).

CONCLUSION

Findings support the importance of early identification of CV health risks in adolescents with type 1 diabetes, particularly for non-Hispanic black adolescents. Interventions focused on overall improvement in glycemic control for adolescents with type 1 diabetes are a priority for minimizing future CV complications.

Young-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus - implications for morbidity and mortality

Accumulating data suggest that type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in younger people (aged <40 years), referred to as young-onset T2DM, has a more rapid deterioration of β-cell function than is seen in later-onset T2DM. Furthermore, individuals with young-onset T2DM seem to have a higher risk of complications than those with type 1 diabetes mellitus. As the number of younger adults with T2DM increases, young-onset T2DM is predicted to become a more frequent feature of the broader diabetes mellitus population in both developing and developed nations, particularly in certain ethnicities. However, the magnitude of excess risk of premature death and incident complications remains incompletely understood; likewise, the potential reasons for this excess risk are unclear. Here, we review the evidence pertaining to young-onset T2DM and its current and future burden of disease in terms of incidence and prevalence in both developed and developing nations. In addition, we highlight the associations of young-onset T2DM with premature mortality and morbidity.

Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency in Children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Background

In the recent years, controversy has emerged regarding the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and the potential effects it could have on glycemic control in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D). This study investigates the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency in pediatric patients with T1D from a single, large volume practice.

Methods

This was a retrospective chart review that collected clinical/demographic data as well as serum 25(OH) D levels from medical records of 395 children between the ages of 3 and 18 years with T1D followed at Nemours Children’s Hospital. This data was compared to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database. A Pearson’s Chi-square test was used between group associations. All statistical tests were two-sided and p < 0.05 was used for statistical significance.

Results

Of the 395 children included in these analyses, 4% were vitamin D deficient and 60% were vitamin D insufficient. There were no significant associations of vitamin D deficiency based on sex and age. Vitamin D deficiency was more common among White children when compared to Hispanic children and African American children (42% vs 29%; p < 0.001). Of those that were vitamin D insufficient (n = 235), most were Hispanic (51%), 36% White and 13% African American. There was a significant association between vitamin D deficiency and body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.035). In the summer, children were less likely to be vitamin D deficient (3% vs 6% in winter) and less likely to be vitamin D insufficient (55% vs 71% in winter) (p = 0.007).

Conclusions

Vitamin D insufficiency is highly prevalent among pediatric type 1 diabetics of Central Florida and statistically significant correlation was found between vitamin D status and ethnicity, BMI as well as seasonal variation.

Prevalence and incidence of type 1 diabetes in the world: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Diabetes is referred to a group of diseases characterized by high glucose levels in blood. It is caused by a deficiency in the production or function of insulin or both, which can occur because of different reasons, resulting in protein and lipid metabolic disorders. The aim of this study was to systematically review the prevalence and incidence of type 1 diabetes in the world. Methods: A systematic search of resources was conducted to investigate the prevalence and incidence of type 1 diabetes in the world. The databases of Medline (via PubMed and Ovid),ProQuest, Scopus, and Web of Science from January 1980 to September 2019 were searched to locate English articles. The located articles were screened in multiple levels of title, abstract,and full-text and final studies that met the inclusion criteria were retrieved and included in the study. Results: From 1202 located articles, 193 studies were included in this systematic review. The results of meta-analysis showed that the incidence of type 1 diabetes was 15 per 100,000 people and the prevalence was 9.5% (95% CI: 0.07 to 0.12) in the world, which was statistically significant. Conclusion: According to the results, the incidence and prevalence of type 1 diabetes are increasing in the world. As a result, insulin will be difficult to access and afford, especially in underdeveloped and developing countries.

Temporal trends in incidence of pediatric type 1 diabetes in Alabama: 2000-2017

OBJECTIVE

The incidence of type 1 diabetes has increased in the United States and worldwide. We hypothesized that trends in the annual incidence rates of childhood-onset type 1 diabetes in the state of Alabama would be different by race and sex.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective observational cohort study, analyzing children with type 1 diabetes (n = 3770) managed at the Children's Hospital of Alabama between 2000 and 2017. We compared crude incidence rates using negative binomial regression models and analyzed differences in annual trends of age-adjusted incidence by race and sex using joinpoint regression.

RESULTS

The crude type 1 diabetes incidence rate was estimated at 16.7 per 100 000 children <19 years of age in Alabama. Between 2000 and 2007, there was an increase in age-adjusted incidence of type 1 diabetes with an annual percent change (APC) of 10% from 2000 to 2007 and a 1.7% APC decrease from 2007 to 2017. The age-adjusted incidence for Whites and Blacks increased with an average annual percentage change (AAPC) of 4.4% and 2.8%, respectively. A nearly 11% increasing trend in age-adjusted incidence was observed for both races, though the increase plateaued in 2006 for Whites and 2010 for Blacks.

CONCLUSIONS

Following significantly increasing annual trends for both races, the age-adjusted rate remained statistically stable for Whites and decreased significantly for Blacks. Longer-sustained trend increases for Blacks resulted in type 1 diabetes incidence tripling compared to the doubling of the rate for Whites.

Changes in the incidence and prevalence of type 1 and type 2 diabetes among 2 million children and adolescents in Hungary between 2001 and 2016 - a nationwide population-based study

INTRODUCTION

The aim of the present study was to assess changes in the incidence and prevalence of type 1 diabetes (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in children and adolescents in Hungary during the period 2001 to 2016 in order to provide nationwide population-based epidemiology data on diabetes in youths aged 0-18 years.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study of Hungarian children and adolescents aged 18 years or younger. Pharmacologically treated diabetes cases were obtained through a population-based registry of the Hungarian National Health Insurance Fund. Time series analysis was used to evaluate the changing patterns of the incidence and prevalence for type 1 and type 2 diabetes covering a 16-year period.

RESULTS

During the study period, 6,138 and 1,997 new T1DM and T2DM cases were observed, respectively. Newly diagnosed T2DM cases accounted for 24.5% of all incident diabetes cases. Incidence of T1DM increased from 16/100,000 to 23/100,000 (R ² = 0.7681; p < 0.0001). The male-to-female ratio among newly diagnosed T1DM patients did not change over the study period. Prevalence of T1DM rose from 114/100,000 to 209/100,000 (R ² = 0.9909; p < 0.0001). The prevalent T1DM cases showed significant male predominance in every year (p < 0.05). Incidence of T2DM decreased from 8/100,000 to 5/100,000 (R ² = 0.4977; p < 0.0014). The overall prevalence of T2DM did not change significantly. Prevalent T2DM cases showed significant female predominance in every year (p < 0.0001). A significant decrease in male-to female ratio was observed among newly diagnosed T2DM cases over the study period (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

According to these population-based Hungarian data of children and adolescents with diabetes, T1DM is still the most common form and its frequency continues to rise, affecting more males than females. A high proportion of patients have T2DM, affecting more females than males, but the occurrence of medically treated cases is not increasing. The decrease in male-to-female ratio in newly diagnosed T2DM cases needs further investigations.

5. Facilitating Behavior Change and Well-being to Improve Health Outcomes: Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes-2020

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) "Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes" includes the ADA's current clinical practice recommendations and is intended to provide the components of diabetes care, general treatment goals and guidelines, and tools to evaluate quality of care. Members of the ADA Professional Practice Committee, a multidisciplinary expert committee (https://doi.org/10.2337/dc20-SPPC), are responsible for updating the Standards of Care annually, or more frequently as warranted. For a detailed description of ADA standards, statements, and reports, as well as the evidence-grading system for ADA's clinical practice recommendations, please refer to the Standards of Care Introduction (https://doi.org/10.2337/dc20-SINT). Readers who wish to comment on the Standards of Care are invited to do so at professional.diabetes.org/SOC.

Therapeutic Effects of BCG Vaccination on Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

BACKGROUND

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) causes the irreversible destruction of pancreatic beta cells. The Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine can modulate the immune response and decelerate disease progression. The aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy of the BCG vaccine for the treatment of T1DM.

OBJECTIVE

Six databases were systematically searched from inception to the end of August 2019. The randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated glycemic control in response to the BCG vaccine for T1DM were enrolled. The primary outcome was glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level, and secondary outcomes included fasting and stimulated C-peptide level, daily insulin dosage, and clinical remission. The revised Cochrane risk of bias tool was used for quality assessment, and meta-analyses were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of the BCG vaccine.

RESULTS

Four studies with a total of 198 subjects were included. The results of HbA1c and fasting C-peptide levels were extracted for further quantitative assessment. The pooled meta-analysis demonstrated no significant difference in HbA1c levels (mean difference [MD], -0.12; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.53 to 0.30; I ² = 56%) or fasting C-peptide levels (MD, -0.15; 95% CI, -0.35 to 0.06; I ² = 0%) in the BCG intervention group as compared with that in the placebo group.

CONCLUSIONS

There is no robust evidence to support the use of the BCG vaccine for the treatment of T1DM although the HbA1c levels tended to improve. Additional RCTs to assess the long-term effects of the BCG vaccine on glycemic control are warranted.

Depressive symptoms and cerebral microvascular disease in adults with Type 1 diabetes mellitus

AIM

To assess the prevalence of, and risk factors for, depressive symptoms, comparing a sample of middle-aged adults with and without juvenile-onset Type 1 diabetes mellitus, and to determine if depressive symptoms were associated with white matter hyperintensity volume among those with Type 1 diabetes.

METHODS

Depressive symptoms and white matter hyperintensities were compared between adults (age range 30-65 years) with juvenile-onset Type 1 diabetes (n=130) and adults without Type 1 diabetes (n=133). The association of Type 1 diabetes with depression was computed before and after adjustment for white matter hyperintensities. Among the Type 1 diabetes group, the primary associations of interest were between depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory score ≥10) and white matter hyperintensities (n=71), hyperglycaemia and physical activity. Associations between depressive symptoms and diabetes-related complications, cognitive impairment, smoking and self-reported disability were examined. Analyses were controlled for education, sex, age and antidepressant use.

RESULTS

Depressive symptoms were more prevalent among those with vs those without Type 1 diabetes (28% vs 3%; P<0.001). White matter hyperintensities explained 40% of the association of Type 1 diabetes with depressive symptoms, while Type 1 diabetes had a direct effect of 68% on depressive symptoms. Among those with Type 1 diabetes, depressive symptoms were related to white matter hyperintensity volume, a 16-year average HbA1c ≥58 mmol/mol (7.5%), and lower physical activity levels. Associations with other characteristics were not significant.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest a cerebrovascular origin for depressive symptoms in adults with Type 1 diabetes, perhaps triggered by hyperglycaemia. Future longitudinal studies should investigate whether targeting hyperglycaemia and physical inactivity alleviates depressive symptoms, possibly by slowing the development of cerebral microvascular disease, in people with Type 1 diabetes.

Systematic review of sociodemographic representation and cultural responsiveness in psychosocial and behavioral interventions with adolescents with type 1 diabetes

BACKGROUND

The increasing incidence of type 1 diabetes (T1D) in youth aged less than 20 years in the USA is a mounting public health concern. Specific sociodemographic characteristics-racial/ethnic minority, low socioeconomic status (SES), single-parent home and underinsured-have been associated with increased risk for poor glycemic control and poor self-management in adolescents with T1D.

METHODS

Sample demographic and cultural responsiveness methods in psychosocial and behavioral interventions focused on improving self-management and glycemic control in adolescents with T1D were systematically evaluated, to identify if studies were targeting these high-risk groups. Keyword searches of PsychInfo, PubMed and CINAHL identified 259 studies published between 2006 and 2016, of adolescents (13-18 years old) with T1D; 28 studies met inclusion criteria.

RESULTS

Samples focused predominantly on White adolescents with fair glycemic control, from middle-high income, two-parent households with private insurance. The majority of studies scored poorly in cultural responsiveness and moderately in culturally responsive reporting. Studies lacked descriptions of culturally inclusive recruitment and sampling methods, and use of culturally responsive assessments for diverse groups. The majority of studies recruited and enrolled homogeneous adolescent samples from the lowest risk groups.

CONCLUSION

T1D intervention researchers must increase targeted recruitment and sampling methods to include more high-risk pediatric T1D groups, expand sociodemographic reporting, and increase the use of culturally responsive recruitment and sampling methods, such as those used in community-based participatory research. Such efforts have the potential to reduce T1D disparities by making interventions more relevant to the unique needs, goals and priorities of highest risk groups.

Temporal trend of newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes children and adolescents identified over a 35-year period in a Brazilian institution

AIMS

To evaluate the temporal trend of newly diagnosed Type 1 Diabetes cases over a 35-year period in a reference Pediatric Endocrinology service in the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

METHODS

Subjects were all children and adolescents diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in the Federal University of Minas Gerais Hospital. Information collected included: gender, age and date of Type 1 diabetes diagnosis. Temporal trends were analyzed between 1980 and 2014 and divided in 5-year intervals.

RESULTS

During this period 642 children and adolescents were diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. From 1980 to 1994 there was an increase in the proportion of children diagnosed between 0 and 4 years old, followed by progressive decrease in the subsequent decades (47% in 1990-1994 to 20% in 2010-2014; p = 0.01). There was an increase in the proportion of children diagnosed between 10 and 18 years old (13% in 1990-1994 to 54% in 2010-2014; p = 0.01). There was no statistical difference in the proportion of children diagnosed between 5 and 9 years old through the studied time.

CONCLUSIONS

In the studied population Type 1 Diabetes in infants and toddlers seems to be decreasing throughout the years while in the age group older than 10 years, it seems to be increasing.

Common patterns of gene regulation associated with Cesarean section and the development of islet autoimmunity - indications of immune cell activation

Birth by Cesarean section increases the risk of developing type 1 diabetes later in life. We aimed to elucidate common regulatory processes observed after Cesarean section and the development of islet autoimmunity, which precedes type 1 diabetes, by investigating the transcriptome of blood cells in the developing immune system. To investigate Cesarean section effects, we analyzed longitudinal gene expression profiles from peripheral blood mononuclear cells taken at several time points from children with increased familial and genetic risk for type 1 diabetes. For islet autoimmunity, we compared gene expression differences between children after initiation of islet autoimmunity and age-matched children who did not develop islet autoantibodies. Finally, we compared both results to identify common regulatory patterns. We identified the pentose phosphate pathway and pyrimidine metabolism - both involved in nucleotide synthesis and cell proliferation - to be differentially expressed in children born by Cesarean section and after islet autoimmunity. Comparison of global gene expression signatures showed that transcriptomic changes were systematically and significantly correlated between Cesarean section and islet autoimmunity. Moreover, signatures of both Cesarean section and islet autoimmunity correlated with transcriptional changes observed during activation of isolated CD4+ T lymphocytes. In conclusion, we identified shared molecular changes relating to immune cell activation in children born by Cesarean section and children who developed autoimmunity. Our results serve as a starting point for further investigations on how a type 1 diabetes risk factor impacts the young immune system at a molecular level.

Power of the Past, Celebrate the Present, Force of the Future Part 4: 50 Years of School Nursing Practice-From Then Until Now

This article is the fourth in the series examining 50 years of NASN's history. It looks at the needs of our students and the practice of school nursing from 1968 through 2018 using the structure provided by NASN Framework for 21st Century School Nursing Practice™. The article examines the destiny of school nursing practice as determined by the needs of our students, the strength and resolve of school nurses, and the education and resources provided by NASN.

Global and regional estimates of the morbidity due to type I diabetes among children aged 0-4 years: a systematic review and analysis

Background

Epidemiology of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) among children aged 0-4 years globally is not well understood. We aim to assess the incidence of T1DM in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) by conducting a systematic review of previous reports. We also aim to address possible contribution to child mortality and to identify any temporal trends.

Methods

A systematic review was performed using a carefully designed search strategy to explore MEDLINE, EMBASE and Global Health databases. Data was extracted from all studies that satisfied the inclusion criteria –a total of 83 records extracted from 26 830 sources that were analysed. We used the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) process to assess quality of evidence and applied meta-analysis approaches to assess global and regional incidence and time trends.

Results

The overall pooled incidence of T1DM in children aged 0-4 years globally is 11.2 (95% CI = 10.0-12.3) per 100 000 child years. The regional incidence were the highest for European Region A (EUR A) at 15.5 (95% CI = 13.5-17.5) per 100 000 child years. EUR C had the incidence of 10.0 (95% CI = 6.5-13.6) and EUR B 5.8 (95% CI = 4.7-7.0), Region of the Americas A (AMR A) 11.4 (95% CI = 7.8-14.9), AMR B of 2.5 (95% CI = 0.2-4.8), Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR B) 7.1 (95% CI = 4.2-10.0) and Western Pacific Region (WPR A) 7.0 (95% CI = 2.9-11.0) per 100 000 child years, while other regions had very low rates or no data. When data points were categorised in the study periods and re-analysed, an increasing trend of the T1DM incidence was observed, with the incidence of 20.9 (95% CI = 7.8-34.1) per 100 000 child years in the years 2010-2015, preceded by 13.2 (95% CI = 11.0-15.5) in 2000-2009 study period, 10.0 (95% CI = 8.4-11.7) in 1990-1999 and 8.3 (95% CI = 5.1-11.6) in 1980-1989, respectively. Although the data are scarce, and variation and uncertainty are large, we estimated that the number of new cases of T1DM among children aged 0-4 years in the world each year is between 100 000 and 150 000.

Conclusions

The identified large variation in incidence estimates for different parts of the world, along with scarcity of information and the identified strong temporal increase in T1DM incidence suggest a clear need for further research into this subject.

A stochastic epigenetic Mendelian oligogenic disease model for type 1 diabetes

The incidence of type 1 diabetes (T1D) and some other complex diseases is increasing. The cause has been attributed to an undefined changing environment. We examine the role of the environment (or any changing non-genetic mechanism) in causing the rising incidence, and find much evidence against it: 1) Dizygotic twin T1D concordance is the same as siblings of patients in general; 2) If the environment is responsible for both the discordance among identical twins of patients with T1D and its rising incidence, the twin concordance rate should be rising, but it is not; 3) Migrants from high-to low-incidence countries continue to have high-incidence children; 4) TID incidence among the offspring of two T1D parents is identical to the monozygotic twin rate. On the other hand, genetic association studies of T1D have revealed strong susceptibility in the major histocompatibility complex and many optional additive genes of small effect throughout the human genome increasing T1D risk. We have, from an analysis of previously published family studies, developed a stochastic epigenetic Mendelian oligogenic (SEMO) model consistent with published observations. The model posits a few required recessive causal genes with incomplete penetrance explaining virtually all of the puzzling features of T1D, including its rising incidence and the specific low T1D incidence rates among first-degree relatives of patients. Since historic selection against any causal gene could prevent T1D, we postulate that the rising incidence is because of increasing population mixing of parents from some previously isolated populations that had selected against different causal genes.

The Effect of Age on the Progression and Severity of Type 1 Diabetes: Potential Effects on Disease Mechanisms

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To explore the impact of age on type 1 diabetes (T1D) pathogenesis.

RECENT FINDINGS

Children progress more rapidly from autoantibody positivity to T1D and have lower C-peptide levels compared to adults. In histological analysis of post-mortem pancreata, younger age of diagnosis is associated with reduced numbers of insulin containing islets and a hyper-immune CD20^hi infiltrate. Moreover compared to adults, children exhibit decreased immune regulatory function and increased engagement and trafficking of autoreactive CD8⁺ T cells, and age-related differences in β cell vulnerability may also contribute to the more aggressive immune phenotype observed in children. To account for some of these differences, HLA and non-HLA genetic loci that influence multiple disease characteristics, including age of onset, are being increasingly characterized. The exception of T1D as an autoimmune disease more prevalent in children than adults results from a combination of immune, metabolic, and genetic factors. Age-related differences in T1D pathology have important implications for better tailoring of immunotherapies.

Emerging Approaches in Surveillance of Type 1 Diabetes

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Surveillance of type 1 diabetes provides an opportunity to address public health needs, inform etiological research, and plan health care services. We present issues in type 1 diabetes surveillance, review previous and current methods, and present new initiatives.

RECENT FINDINGS

Few diabetes surveillance systems distinguish between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Most worldwide efforts have focused on registries and ages < 15 years, resulting in limited information among adults. Recently, surveillance includes use of electronic health information and national health surveys. However, distinguishing by diabetes type remains a challenge. Enhancing and improving surveillance of type 1 diabetes across all age groups could include validating questions for use in national health surveys. In addition, validated algorithms for classifying diabetes type in electronic health records could further improve surveillance efforts and close current gaps in our understanding of the epidemiology of type 1 diabetes.

The proportion of familial cases of type 1 diabetes is increasing simultaneously with the disease incidence: Eighteen years of the Israeli Pediatric Diabetes Registry

BACKGROUND

The global rise in incidence of type 1 diabetes (T1D) is too rapid to be attributed to susceptible genetic background, pinpointing a significant role for environmental factors. Unlike the theory that the need for genetic susceptibility has lessened over time, we hypothesized that the rise in T1D incidence is faster in a genetically susceptible population.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

The study population comprised of 5080 patients aged 0 to 17 years who were reported to the National Israel Diabetes Registry between 1997 and 2014. The patients were divided into familial cases (first-degree relative has T1D), and sporadic cases. Demographic and clinical data were retrieved from the registry. The change in annual percent (from the entire cohort) was computed separately for the sporadic and familial cohorts.

RESULTS

The familial (n = 546; 10.7%) and sporadic (n = 4534; 89.3%) cases were comparable for gender, ethnicity, and age at diagnosis. Consanguinity was more common in the familial vs sporadic group (10% vs 6.1%; P = .001). The average annual percent change increased by 1.9% in the familial cases and decreased by 0.2% in the sporadic cases (P = .04).

CONCLUSIONS

The rapid rise in the proportion of familial cases of T1D suggests that environmental factors impose higher diabetogenic pressure in patients with a susceptible genetic background.

A peripheral blood transcriptomic signature predicts autoantibody development in infants at risk of type 1 diabetes

Autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic islet β cells results in type 1 diabetes (T1D). Serum islet autoantibodies usually develop in genetically susceptible individuals in early childhood before T1D onset, with multiple islet autoantibodies predicting diabetes development. However, most at-risk children remain islet-antibody negative, and no test currently identifies those likely to seroconvert. We sought a genomic signature predicting seroconversion risk by integrating longitudinal peripheral blood gene expression profiles collected in high-risk children included in the BABYDIET and DIPP cohorts, of whom 50 seroconverted. Subjects were followed for 10 years to determine time of seroconversion. Any cohort effect and the time of seroconversion were corrected to uncover genes differentially expressed (DE) in seroconverting children. Gene expression signatures associated with seroconversion were evident during the first year of life, with 67 DE genes identified in seroconverting children relative to those remaining antibody negative. These genes contribute to T cell-, DC-, and B cell-related immune responses. Near-birth expression of ADCY9, PTCH1, MEX3B, IL15RA, ZNF714, TENM1, and PLEKHA5, along with HLA risk score predicted seroconversion (AUC 0.85). The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway linked DE genes and T1D susceptibility genes. Therefore, a gene expression signature in infancy predicts risk of seroconversion. Ubiquitination may play a mechanistic role in diabetes progression.

DPP-4 Inhibitors as Treatments for Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVE

Several clinical studies have reported the application of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors as treatments for type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). This study aims to review the outcomes of these existing studies and to discuss the therapeutic effects of DPP-4 inhibitors on T1DM.

METHODS

We thoroughly searched the Medline, Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane Library databases and ClinicalTrials.gov for studies concerning the use of DPP-4 inhibitors in patients with T1DM.

RESULTS

In preclinical trials, DPP-4 inhibitors improved the pathogenesis of T1DM. However, only a portion of the studies showed potential efficacy regarding clinical glycemic control and other clinical parameters. From this meta-analysis, pooled data from 5 randomized controlled trials revealed that the additional use of DPP-4 inhibitors resulted in a greater decrease in glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels (0.07%, 95% CI (-0.37%-0.23%)) than insulin monotherapy, although the decrease was not significant. A small decrease in postprandial glucose or insulin consumption was confirmed.

CONCLUSION

Although DPP-4 inhibitors may be beneficial for T1DM, existing studies do not strongly support these positive effects in clinical practice. Further optimized clinical trials are needed.

Parents' Underestimations of Child Weight: Implications for Obesity Prevention

PURPOSE

Obesity prevention efforts may be ineffective if parents lack awareness of their children's overweight status. This study examined the factors that predicted parents' underestimation of child weight status.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Using a cross sectional design, researchers recruited children and parents in a local children's museum. Parents completed a demographic questionnaire, the Newest Vital Sign, and the Child Body Image Scale. Children's height and weight were measured to calculate child BMI. Random effects modeling examined the association between predictor variables (parent race/ethnicity, income, education, and health literacy, and child BMI percentile, gender, and age) and the dependent variable, parent underestimation of child weight status.

RESULTS

Participants included 160 parents (213 children aged 7-12years) representing a racially and ethnically diverse sample who were affluent, educated, and with 36.6% of parents assessed with limited health literacy. Although 45.1% of children were overweight/obese, only 7.5% of parents chose this weight status; 80% of parents underestimated the weight of their normal weight children, 96% underestimated their overweight children, and 72% underestimated their obese children. Parents were more likely to underestimate weight of older children and those under 81st percentile of BMI. No other predictors were significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Parent underestimation of child weight status appears to be a widespread phenomenon in this sample, regardless of race, ethnicity, income, education, and health literacy.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

The consistent underestimation of child weight suggests that parents' misperception of weight status represents a critical pathway for intervention. Methods to improve parents' perception of child weight need be developed and tested.

Increasing Incidence and Altered Presentation in a Population-based Study of Pediatric Celiac Disease in North America

OBJECTIVES

Celiac disease (CD) is a common immune-mediated disorder that affects up to 1% of the general population. Recent reports suggest that the incidence of CD has reached a plateau in many countries. We aim to study the incidence and altered presentation of childhood CD in a well-defined population.

METHODS

Using the Rochester Epidemiology Project, we retrospectively reviewed Mayo Clinic and Olmsted Medical Center medical records from January 1994 to December 2014. We identified all CD cases of patients ages 18 years or younger at the time of diagnosis. Incidence rates were calculated by adjusting for age, sex, and calendar year and standardizing to the 2010 US white population.

RESULTS

We identified 100 patients with CD. Incidence of CD has increased from 8.1 per 100,000 person-years (2000-2002) to 21.5 per 100,000 person-years (2011-2014). There was an increase in CD prevalence in children from 2010 (0.10%) to 2014 (0.17%). Thirty-four patients (34%) presented with classical CD symptoms, 43 (43%) had nonclassical CD, and 23 (23%) were diagnosed by screening asymptomatic high-risk patients. Thirty-six patients (36%) had complete villous atrophy, 51 (51%) had partial atrophy, and 11 (11%) had increased intraepithelial lymphocytes. Two patients were diagnosed without biopsy. Most patients (67%) had a normal body mass index, 17% were overweight/obese, and only 9% were underweight.

CONCLUSIONS

Both incidence and prevalence of CD have continued to increase in children during the past 15 years in Olmsted County, Minnesota. Clinical and pathologic presentations of CD are changing over time (more nonclassical and asymptomatic cases are emerging).

Incidence and prevalence of childhood-onset Type 1 diabetes in Japan: the T1D study

AIMS

A majority of children with Type 1 diabetes in Japan are registered with the government-subsidized Specified Pediatric Chronic Disease Treatment Research Projects (SPCDTRP). In this study, the incidence and prevalence of childhood-onset (< 15 years) Type 1 diabetes in Japan were estimated by drawing on SPCDTRP data.

METHODS

Data available for 2005-2012 from the SPCDTRP and Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications were used to estimate the incidence of Type 1 diabetes for 2005-2010, adjusted to cover those registered within 3 years of disease onset and stratified by sex, age at onset and period of onset.

RESULTS

The incidence of Type 1 diabetes for 2005-2010 was 2.25/100,000 persons [95% confidence intervals (95% CI), 2.14-2.36] (boys: 1.91, 95% CI, 1.83-1.98; girls: 2.52, 95% CI, 2.34-2.69), with that for the age brackets 0-4, 5-9 and 10-14 years being 1.48 (95% CI, 1.29-1.66), 2.27 (95% CI, 2.08-2.47) and 3.00 (95% CI, 2.74-3.25), respectively. The onset of disease was shown to peak at age 13 among boys (3.28, 95% CI, 3.02-3.55) and at age 10 among girls (3.28, 95% CI, 3.02-3.55). The peak periods of disease onset were April/May and December. The number of children aged < 15 years with Type 1 diabetes for 2005-2012 was estimated to be 2326 (95% CI, 2202-2450) with the prevalence estimated as 13.53/100,000 persons (95% CI, 12.63-14.43).

CONCLUSIONS

Study findings demonstrated no increase in the incidence of Type 1 diabetes, although suggesting, in agreement with earlier reports, that the onset of disease peaks in adolescence with a female predominance. In addition, the incidence of childhood-onset diabetes exhibited an annual bimodal pattern in this study.

Regional Gray Matter Volumes as Related to Psychomotor Slowing in Adults with Type 1 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE

Psychomotor slowing is a common cognitive complication in type 1 diabetes (T1D), but its neuroanatomical correlates and risk factors are unclear. In nondiabetic adults, smaller gray matter volume (GMV) and presence of white matter hyperintensities are associated with psychomotor slowing. We hypothesize that smaller GMV in prefronto-parietal regions explains T1D-related psychomotor slowing. We also inspect the contribution of microvascular disease and hyperglycemia.

METHODS

GMV, white matter hyperintensities (WMH), and glucose levels were measured concurrently with a test of psychomotor speed (Digit Symbol Substitution Test [DSST]) in 95 adults with childhood-onset T1D (mean age/duration = 49/41 years) and 135 similarly aged non-T1D adults. Linear regression models tested associations between DSST and regional GMV, controlling for T1D, sex, and education; a bootstrapping method tested whether regional GMV explained between-group differences in DSST. For the T1D cohort, voxel-based and a priori regions-of-interest methods further tested associations between GMV and DSST, adjusting for WMH, hyperglycemia, and age.

RESULTS

Bilateral putamen, but no other regions examined, significantly attenuated DSST differences between the cohorts (bootstrapped unstandardized indirect effects: -3.49, -3.26; 95% confidence interval = -5.49 to -1.80, -5.29 to -1.44, left and right putamen, respectively). Among T1D, DSST was positively associated with GMV of bilateral putamen and left thalamus. Neither WMH, hyperglycemia, age, nor other factors substantially modified these relationships.

CONCLUSIONS

For middle-aged adults with T1D and cerebral microvascular disease, GMV of basal ganglia may play a critical role in regulating psychomotor speed, as measured via DSST. Studies to quantify the impact of basal ganglia atrophy concurrent with WMH progression on psychomotor slowing are warranted.