Trends in Glycemic Control Among Youth and Young Adults With Diabetes: The SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study

OBJECTIVE

To describe temporal trends and correlates of glycemic control in youth and young adults (YYA) with youth-onset diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

The study included 6,369 participants with type 1 or type 2 diabetes from the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth study. Participant visit data were categorized into time periods of 2002-2007, 2008-2013, and 2014-2019, diabetes durations of 1-4, 5-9, and ≥10 years, and age groups of 1-9, 10-14, 15-19, 20-24, and ≥25 years. Participants contributed one randomly selected data point to each duration and age group per time period. Multivariable regression models were used to test differences in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) over time by diabetes type. Models were adjusted for site, age, sex, race/ethnicity, household income, health insurance status, insulin regimen, and diabetes duration, overall and stratified for each diabetes duration and age group.

RESULTS

Adjusted mean HbA1c for the 2014-2019 cohort of YYA with type 1 diabetes was 8.8 ± 0.04%. YYA with type 1 diabetes in the 10-14-, 15-19-, and 20-24-year-old age groups from the 2014-2019 cohort had worse glycemic control than the 2002-2007 cohort. Race/ethnicity, household income, and treatment regimen predicted differences in glycemic control in participants with type 1 diabetes from the 2014-2019 cohort. Adjusted mean HbA1c was 8.6 ± 0.12% for 2014-2019 YYA with type 2 diabetes. Participants aged ≥25 years with type 2 diabetes had worse glycemic control relative to the 2008-2013 cohort. Only treatment regimen was associated with differences in glycemic control in participants with type 2 diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite advances in diabetes technologies, medications, and dissemination of more aggressive glycemic targets, many current YYA are less likely to achieve desired glycemic control relative to earlier cohorts.

Longitudinal association between television watching and computer use and risk markers in diabetes in the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study

BACKGROUND

The study provides evidence of the longitudinal association between screen time with hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and cardiovascular risk markers among youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D).

OBJECTIVE

To examine the longitudinal relationship of screen time with HbA1c and serum lipids among youth with diabetes.

SUBJECTS

Youth with T1D and T2D.

METHODS

We followed up 1049 youth (≥10 yr old) with recently diagnosed T1D and T2D participating in the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study.

RESULTS

Increased television watching on weekdays and during the week over time was associated with larger increases in HbA1c among youth with T1D and T2D (p-value <0.05). Among youth with T1D, significant longitudinal associations were observed between television watching and TG (p-value <0.05) (week days and whole week), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c, p-value <0.05) (whole week). For example, for youth who watched 1 h of television per weekday at the outset and 3 h per weekday 5 yr later, the longitudinal model predicted greater absolute increases in HbA1c (2.19% for T1D and 2.16% for T2D); whereas for youth who watched television 3 h per weekday at the outset and 1 h per weekday 5 yr later, the model predicted lesser absolute increases in HbA1c (2.08% for T1D and 1.06% for T2D).

CONCLUSIONS

Youth with T2D who increased their television watching over time vs. those who decreased it had larger increases in HbA1c over 5 yr. Youth with T1D who increased their television watching over time had increases in LDL-c, TG, and to a lesser extent HbA1c.

Improvements in cognition, mood and behaviour following commencement of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion therapy in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus: a pilot study

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

Anecdotally, parents and teachers of children with type 1 diabetes mellitus report improvements in behaviour and learning following the commencement of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII). This study aimed to investigate changes in cognition, mood and behaviour following commencement of CSII in children with type 1 diabetes.

METHODS

Children (n = 32) with type 1 diabetes aged 6-16 years and starting CSII at two Australian centres underwent behavioural, cognitive and glycaemic assessments prior to the commencement of CSII and 6-8 weeks after its start. A comprehensive cognitive test battery was administered, comprising measures of intelligence, attention, processing speed and executive skills. Behaviour and mood were assessed using the Behaviour Assessment System for Children--Second Edition. Continuous glucose monitoring was performed over a 72 h period and HbA(1c) was measured at both time-points.

RESULTS

After commencement of CSII, there were significant improvements in HbA(1c), a reduction in hyperglycaemia and blood glucose variation and an increase in normoglycaemia. Significant improvements were observed in perceptual reasoning, selective attention, divided attention, cognitive flexibility and working memory. Fewer mood-related symptoms were reported (parent, teacher and self-report) and fewer behavioural problems (parent reports)

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

In this uncontrolled pilot study, children with type 1 diabetes demonstrated significant improvements in measures of metabolic control, mood and behaviour and in some complex cognitive skills after commencing CSII therapy.