Whole Day Workload: Evaluation of a New Outcome Measure in Occupational Therapy for Adults With Type 1 Diabetes.

IMPORTANCE: Typical whole day workload is a metric with potential relevance to the occupational balance and well-being of individuals with chronic conditions. OBJECTIVE: To examine the reliability and validity of using multiple daily NASA Task Load Index measures (whole day TLX) as an indicator of typical whole day workload experienced by adults with Type 1 diabetes (T1D). DESIGN: Participants with T1D completed cross-sectional measures and 2 wk of ecological momentary assessments (EMA) and daily diaries. Reliability was assessed across subgroups (e.g., workers vs. nonworkers); validity was evaluated with multilevel confirmatory factor analysis and with tests of convergent and divergent validity with patient-reported outcomes and blood glucose measures. SETTING: Three outpatient endocrinology clinics in the United States. PARTICIPANTS: Data from 164 U.S. adults with T1D (42% Latino, 30% White). OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Measures used included the whole day TLX (assessed via 2 wk of daily diaries), time in target blood glucose range (assessed with a continuous glucose monitor), illness intrusiveness (measured cross-sectionally), and stress (measured cross-sectionally and with EMA). RESULTS: Number of days required for at least 0.70 reliability of the average whole day TLX ranged between 2 and 6 days depending on the subgroup. Results supported convergent and divergent validity of the average of the whole day TLX, including associations with average stress (r = .63, p < .001) and time in target blood glucose range (r = -.25, p = .002). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The whole day TLX was a reliable and valid indicator of typical whole day workload. Plain-Language Summary: The health management responsibilities for Type 1 diabetes can be extremely burdensome. When these responsibilities are experienced, in addition to duties such as work and caregiving, the totality of demands experienced (i.e., whole day workload) can create further issues, such as unhealthy physiological changes and interference with self-care. We tested the psychometric properties of a measurement tool that assesses the typical level of workload people experience. This measure, referred to as the NASA Task Load Index (whole day TLX), was found to be a reliable and valid indicator of typical whole day workload. Occupational therapists may use the whole day TLX to track progress in interventions focused on reducing clients' whole day workload exposure to promote their health and well-being. Occupational therapists' expertise in areas such as activity analysis, task adaptation, and energy conservation makes them especially well-suited to intervene on whole day workload.

Regular physical activity as a physiological factor contributing to extend partial remission time in children with new onset diabetes mellitus-Two years observation.

BACKGROUND: Beneficial effects of physical activity (PA) are confirmed in patients with all types of long-lasting diabetes. The possibility of PA to be a factor prolonging remission phase in children with new-onset type 1 diabetes (T1D) has not yet been thoroughly studied. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to elucidate the influence of regular PA on prevalence of partial remission (PR), metabolic control, daily insulin requirement (DIR), and C-peptide secretion in children newly diagnosed with T1D. METHODS: A total of 125 children diagnosed with T1D were studied prospectively for 2 years. Patients were controlled every 3 months and advised with PA according to ISPAD recommendations. Anthropometric parameters, HbA1c, C-peptide level and DIR were analyzed. Patients' PA level was assessed using a self-designed questionnaire. RESULTS: We classified 43% of participants as physically-active. In this group, lower HbA1c after 2 years, lower DIR after 3, 6 months, and after 2 years (all P < .05) were found. At discharge from hospital, the prevalence of DIR < 0.5 U/kg/24 h with near normoglycemia was similar in both groups. Then, we observed higher PR prevalence in active group lasting over time and resulting in 44% vs 13% after 2 years (P < .001). C-peptide after 2 years was comparable in both groups, with higher prevalence of clinically significant levels (>0.2 nmoL/L) in active group: 79.6% vs 61.4% (P = .029). CONCLUSIONS: These data support the view that regular PA may essentially contribute to extending PR time in pediatric diabetes, and may therefore lead to a better long-term metabolic control of the disease.

Relaxation training significantly reduced blood glucose levels in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE: The present study was designed to test whether adding a relaxation training technique to the medical treatment of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus could, adjusting for the non-specific factors of therapy, lead to an improvement in the patients' condition. METHOD: Forty-six participants were randomly allocated either to an experimental (intervention) group, receiving weekly sessions of relaxation training, or to a control group (placebo) receiving weekly blood circulation training exercises. Measures included the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory, blood glucose levels, high-density lipoprotein levels, cholesterol levels, body weight, HbA1c levels, the Mood Adjective Checklist (MACL), a diary checklist, and urine glucose levels. Assessment of psychological and physiological parameters was conducted before and upon completion of the intervention (8 weeks). RESULTS: Trait anxiety and the main metabolic measurement of blood glucose levels and HbA1C revealed significant differences over time, predominantly among patients in the intervention group. CONCLUSIONS: Relaxation techniques as an adjunct to medical treatment are a useful tool for patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

A pilot randomized controlled trial of a gratitude intervention for adolescents with Type 1 diabetes.

AIM: Cost-effective psychosocial interventions that can feasibly be implemented into busy clinical settings are needed to improve psychological and physical health outcomes in adolescents with Type 1 diabetes. We examined the efficacy of a gratitude journalling intervention to improve psychological well-being and glycaemic control in adolescents aged 10-16 years with Type 1 diabetes. METHODS: Eighty adolescents were randomized to the 8-week gratitude intervention (N = 40) or standard care (N = 40). Self-reported measures of stress, quality of life, self-care, depression and gratitude were assessed at baseline and 8 weeks after baseline. Glycaemic control (HbA1c ) was assessed at baseline and 12 weeks after baseline. A per-protocol analysis was conducted with the adolescents who completed all questionnaires (N = 60). Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to examine differences between treatment arms at follow-up adjusting for baseline scores. RESULTS: There was no evidence of any between-group differences in the psychological or behavioural measures at follow-up (all P-values > 0.05). Glycaemic control slightly increased in the control group while remaining stable in the gratitude group, with a between-group difference of 6.1 mmol/mol [95% confidence interval (CI) -2.6 to 14.7; 0.6%, 95% CI -0.2 to 1.3] at 12 weeks after baseline. After adjusting for baseline HbA1c , this between-group difference was significant (P = 0.048). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first randomized trial of a gratitude journalling intervention for adolescents with Type 1 diabetes. Gratitude journalling interventions represent a clinically usable approach. If and how it helps to stabilise glycaemic control in adolescents with Type 1 diabetes remains to be confirmed in future research.

Inpatient Rehabilitation for Children and Adolescents With Diabetes in Germany Between 2006 and 2013.

INTRODUCTION: In Germany, inpatient rehabilitation is a well-established additive option in the therapeutic concept for children and adolescents with diabetes. However, its contribution in pediatric diabetes care is not known exactly. Our objective was to analyze inpatient rehabilitation in pediatric diabetes over eight years in Germany. METHODS: We requested secondary data from the German Statutory Pension Insurance Scheme to evaluate all completed inpatient rehabilitations for children and adolescents with diabetes (ICD-code E10-14) reimbursed by this institution between 2006 and 2013. For each type of diabetes, we analyzed the distribution of admissions by year, age-group, sex, nationality, and other documented diagnoses. All analyses were conducted via remote computing with IBM SPSS Version 24. RESULTS: Between 2006 and 2013, 5,403 admissions to inpatient rehabilitation for 4,746 children and adolescents with diabetes were documented. For type 1 diabetes (T1D; 88.5% of admissions), the number of yearly admissions increased from 458 in 2006 to 688 in 2013 (p=0.013), especially for age-group>5-10. The increase for type 2 diabetes (T2D) was not significant. Admissions were more frequent for girls (53.6%, p≤0.001), age>10-15 years (42.8%, p=0.001), and German nationality (98.5%). Obesity (T1D: 11.1%; T2D: 87.9%) and mental disorders (T1D: 11.6%; T2D: 27.4%) were the most frequent documented diagnoses in addition to diabetes. CONCLUSION: This study provides a comprehensive overview of inpatient rehabilitation for children and adolescents with diabetes over many years in Germany. Until 2013, inpatient rehabilitation remained important in pediatric diabetes care, especially for children with mental disorders or obesity.

Rehabilitation in Germany 2004-2016 A Multicenter Analysis Over a Period of 13 Years in Children and Adolescents with Diabetes Mellitus.

In the treatment of children/adolescents with diabetes medical rehabilitation plays an important role. It was the aim of the survey to analyze trends in the number of patients admitted to rehabilitation, the quality of diabetes care, the incidence of acute complications, risk factors for cardiovascular co-morbidities like lipids and blood pressure and the familial status nationwide and over a period of 13 years. METHODS: Currently seven hospitals offer in-patient rehabilitation for children/adolescents with diabetes in Germany. Six hospitals participated in the survey. All children/adolescents (n=7.163) who participated in an in-patient rehabilitation 01/01/2004-31/12/2016 were included. Clinical/familial data were assessed: age, sex, family situation, type/duration of diabetes, insulin dosage, self-monitoring, acute complications, height, body weight, blood pressure and laboratory parameters. For collecting and storage of data the computer software DPV® (Diabetes-Patienten-Verlaufsdokumentation, University of Ulm, Germany) was used. Statistical analyses were performed using the programme SAS (Statistical Analysis Software 9.4, SAS Institute Inc, Cary, North Carolina, USA). RESULTS: During the study period 7.163 patients took part in 10.987 in-patient rehabilitation procedures. The yearly number of patients participating in rehabilitation remained stable. There was no change in the quality of diabetes control (HbA1c: p=0.30, fasting blood glucose: p=0.80). The incidence of severe hypoglycaemia decreased (p<0.001). The incidence of ketacidosis remained stable (p=0.18). The frequency of blood glucose self-monitoring increased (p<0.001). The same was true for patients treated with CSII (p<0.001), whereas the numbers of patients treated with CT or ICT decreased (both p<0.001). There was no change in patients' total insulin dose (p=0.01). There was a decrease of the number of patients living with both parents (p<0.001), the percentage of children/adolescents living with mother or father alone increased (p<0.001). The percentage of children/adolescents living in mixed cultural families or having a background of immigration increased (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: There is a change in medical rehabilitation: The number is stable, the proportion of patients using CSII increased, the number of patients living with single parents and the percentage of patients from culturally mixed families increased also.

Impact of insulin reduction on glycemic control in children attending a residential diabetes camp.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Children attending diabetes camp are more active, increasing the risk of hypoglycemia. Decreasing initial insulin doses may reduce this risk. The objectives of our study were to compare glycemic control between campers receiving multiple daily injections (MDI) and continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII), and analyze the impact of decreasing basal insulin by 10%. METHODS: We analyzed 849 camp sessions (599 children, 5-19 years old) from Camp Sweeney's 2016/2017 summers. Campers were separated into groups by year and insulin route (MDI_2016, MDI_2017, CSII_2016, and CSII_2017). The MDI_2016 group had initial basal insulin decreased 10%, while CSII_2016, MDI_2017, and CSII_2017 did not. Time spent in blood glucose ranges and area under the curve (AUC) were compared by year and insulin route using ANOVA. We also performed repeated measures ANOVA using campers who attended both years. RESULTS: No significant differences in time spent in any glucose range could be attributed to the initial 10% basal decrease, including on paired analysis. MDI_2017 had more decreases to basal insulin than the other groups. CSII campers had higher AUC and more hyperglycemia than MDI campers. CONCLUSIONS: Campers on MDI may benefit from decreasing basal insulin, either at the beginning of camp or during the first week. Future research is needed to optimize glycemic control in the camp setting.

High-Intensity Interval Training Improves Aerobic Capacity Without a Detrimental Decline in Blood Glucose in People With Type 1 Diabetes.

Context: We investigated whether 6 weeks of high-intensity interval training (HIT) induced improvements in cardiometabolic health markers similar to moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) in people with type 1 diabetes (T1D), and whether HIT abolished acute reductions in plasma glucose levels observed after MICT sessions. Methods: Two groups of sedentary individuals with T1D (n = 7 per group) completed 6 weeks of thrice weekly HIT or MICT. Pre- and post-training measurements were made of 24-hour interstitial glucose profiles, using continuous glucose monitors, and cardiometabolic health markers [peak oxygen consumption (V˙o2peak), blood lipid profile, and aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV)]. Capillary blood glucose (BG) concentrations were assessed before and after exercise to investigate changes in BG levels during exercise in the fed state. Results: Six weeks of HIT or MICT increased V˙o2peak by 14% and 15%, respectively (P < 0.001), and aPWV by 12% (P < 0.001), with no difference between groups. There was no difference in incidence or percentage of time spent in hypoglycemia after training in either group (P > 0.05). In the fed state, the mean change (±SEM) in capillary BG concentration during the HIT sessions was -0.2 ± 0.5 mmol/L, and -5.5 ± 0.4 mmol/L during MICT. Conclusions: Six weeks of HIT improved V˙o2peak and aPWV to a similar extent as MICT. That BG levels remained stable during HIT in the fed state but consistently fell during MICT suggests HIT may be the preferred training mode for some people with T1D.

Implementation of discharge recommendations in type 1 diabetes depends on specialist nurse follow-up.

AIM: This paper presents an implementation study following previous research including a randomised controlled trial (RCT) of hospital-based home care (HBHC), referring to specialist care in a home-based setting. The aim was to evaluate whether the effects sustained when rolled out into wider practice. METHODS: In 2013-2014, 42 children newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes were included in the study at a university hospital in Sweden and followed for two years. Measurements of child safety, effects of services, resource use and service quality were included. Descriptive statistics were used to present the results and then discussed in relation to the same intervention of HBHC previously evaluated in an RCT. RESULTS: Shorter in-hospital stay was partially implemented but increased support after discharge by the diabetes nurse was not. The results indicated that the implemented HBHC was equally effective in terms of child outcomes two years from diagnosis but less effective in terms of parents' outcome. The results furthermore indicated that the quality of services decreased. CONCLUSION: The suggested overall conclusion was that the implemented HBHC services were safe but had become less effective, at least in relation to the HBHC provided under controlled circumstances.

[Rehabilitation of Patients with Diabetes]. / Rehabilitation von Patienten mit Diabetes mellitus.

Diabetes prevalence in Germany has increased from 1% in 1960 to around 9,8%. This increase is mainly due to an increase in type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. People with diabetes are classified as multimorbid patients in most cases. The prognosis is determined by secondary diseases and comorbidities.Evidence-based therapy modules are used in the rehabilitation of people with diabetes. Important clinical therapy goals are the avoidance of hypoglycemia and complications, as well as and exerting a favorable influence on comorbidities. For many rehabilitants with type 2 diabetes, one main focus is the transmission of sustainable impulses to change the lifestyle in the foreground.With the emergence of bariatric surgeries, a new successful therapy option is now available for overweight people with type 2 diabetes. The introduction of continuous glucose measurement (CGM) allows for a reduction in the incidence of hypoglycemia and thus an improvement in participation at work and on the road. The new guideline "Diabetes and Road Traffic" specifies the preconditions for fitness to drive in people with diabetes.

Factors Influencing Frequency and Duration of Remission in Children and Adolescents Newly Diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.

BACKGROUND This study aimed to determine the frequency and duration of remission in children and adolescents newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and to investigate factors associated with these parameters. MATERIAL AND METHODS Fifty patients newly diagnosed with T1DM were followed for 1 year. Daily insulin requirement of less than 0.5 U/kg/day dose when the HbA1c value is less than 8% was regarded as partial remission. Patients were grouped according to their remission duration. Clinical and laboratory characteristics of the remission groups and non-remission groups were compared to find factors influencing remission and to investigate their contribution to the duration of remission. RESULTS Remission was observed in 24 (48%) out of 50 patients included in the study. Remission frequency was found to be associated with age, sex, and puberty. Longer duration of remission was more frequent in the younger age group, in pre-pubertal stage, and in male patients. Daily insulin dose and basal insulin requirement of those who went into remission was found to be significantly lower than in the other patients at discharge. CONCLUSIONS Decreased daily total and basal insulin requirement at discharge are valuable in predicting remission. The remission process in type 1 diabetes still has many characteristics that need to be clarified. Therefore, more extensive studies are needed.

The Role of Physical Exercise in Obesity and Diabetes.

SUMMARY: The prevalence of obesity is increasing world-wide. Obesity is associated with a plethora of metabolic and clinical constraints, which result in a higher risk for the development of cardiovascular complications and metabolic disease, particularly insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Obesity is an acknowledged determinant of glycemic control in patients with type 1 diabetes and accounts for the majority of premature death due to cardiovascular events. Physical exercise is generally recommended in patients with diabetes in order to prevent the development of or reduce existing obesity, as adopted by every international treatment guideline so far. Regular physical exercise has a beneficial impact on body composition, cardiovascular integrity, insulin sensitivity and quality of life. However, only a minority of patients participates in regular physical exercise, due to individual or disease-related barriers. In type 2 diabetes, there is robust evidence for beneficial effects of physical exercise on glycemic control, cardiovascular health and the development of diabetes-related long-term complications. In type 1 diabetes and patients treated with insulin, a higher risk for exercise-related hypoglycemia has to be considered, which requires certain prerequisites and adequate adaptions of insulin dosing. Current treatment guidelines do only incompletely address the development of exercise-related hypoglycemia. However, every patient with diabetes should participate in regular physical exercise in order to support and enable sufficient treatment and optimal glycemic control.

Type 1 diabetes care: Improvement by standardization in a diabetes rehabilitation clinic. An observational report.

BACKGROUND: T1D treatment requires informed self-responsible patients, who, however, frequently miss their therapeutic goals, providing considerable potential for improvement. METHODS: This observational report evaluates T1D patients [N = 109], aged ≥18 years (range 22-82), poorly controlled at home, at and 3 weeks after their admission to our diabetes rehabilitation clinic [DRC], where they were offered standardized, but unmonitored life-style modification. RESULTS: At admission, patients displayed elevated HbA1c values (66 mmol/mol [57; 81]), a high prevalence of co-morbidities (88%), lipodystrophies due to monolocal insulin injections (42%), a low rate of influenza (16%) and pneumococcal (7%) immunization, and underuse of lipid-lowering drugs (-38%). Standardization of life-style improved glucose (p<0.0001) and lipid metabolism (LDL/HDL ratio p<0.01) permitting reduction of insulin dose and reduction of add-on glucose-lowering drugs (GLDs) other than metformin. Outcome was independent of the mode of insulin treatment strategy and more marked at initially high HbA1c, with DRC-costs/d less than 25% of those encountered at standard hospitals. CONCLUSION: Type 1 diabetes care requires i) insulin treatment, food intake and life style to be handled in concert, ii) this need cannot be replaced by arbitrary addition of add-on GLDs, and iii) training to this end is 75% cheaper at a DRC than in standard hospitals.

Feasibility of a Manualized Occupation-Based Diabetes Management Intervention.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the feasibility and acceptability of an occupational therapy intervention targeting diabetes management for underserved young adults. METHOD: Eight participants completed the intervention and a battery of assessments at baseline and after the intervention. At completion, the participants and occupational therapist were interviewed about their experiences with the study. Four categories of assessment questions were used to guide the study: process, resource, management, and scientific. RESULTS: Successes included recruitment; fulfillment of tasks by staff and partnering clinics; adequate space, financial support, and equipment; and meaningfulness of the intervention for participants. Challenges included scheduling participants for the intervention and follow-up focus groups and providing client centeredness and flexibility while reducing burden on the intervener. CONCLUSION: This feasibility study allowed us to make necessary revisions to our study protocol before implementing a larger pilot study.

Diabetes Alert Dogs (DADs): An assessment of accuracy and implications.

AIMS: To test the accuracy of Diabetes Alert Dogs (DADs) by comparing recorded alerts to continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) device readings during waking and sleeping hours. METHODS: 14 individuals (7 adults with type 1 diabetes and 7 youth with type 1 diabetes/parents) who owned DADs for ≥6 mos wore masked CGM devices over a several-week period while recording DAD alerts electronically and in paper diaries. RESULTS: During waking hours, sensitivity scores across participants were 35.9% for low BG events and 26.2% for high BG events. DAD accuracy was highly variable with 3/14 individual dogs performing statistically higher than chance. Sensitivity scores were lower during sleep hours of the person with diabetes (22.2% for low BG events and 8.4% for high BG events). DAD accuracy during sleeping hours was also highly variable, with 1/11 individual dogs performing statistically better than chance. Rate of change analyses indicated that DADs were responding to absolute BG level, rather than rapid shifts in glucose levels. CONCLUSIONS: In this study the majority of DADs did not demonstrate accurate detection of low and high BG events. However, performance varied greatly across DADs and additional studies are needed to examine factors contributing to this variability. Additionally, more research is needed to investigate the significant gap between the positive experiences and clinical outcomes reported by DAD owners and the mixed research findings on DAD accuracy.

Mental health and well-being among type 1 diabetes caregivers in India: Evidence from the IDREAM study.

AIMS: Although more than half of the world's children with T1D live in developing countries, still little is known about how caregiving for children with T1D affects the parent/caregivers' health in low- and middle-income country settings. METHODS: Caregivers of 178 children with T1D from a specialized diabetes clinic in Maharashtra, India were surveyed. Ordered and standard logistic regression models adjusted for caregiver, household and child characteristics, were fit to estimate the association of caregiving burden (objective caregiving burden and subjective caregiving burden (Zarit Burden Inventory - tertiles)) with caregiver depression (Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9]) and well-being (CDC Unhealthy Days) outcomes. RESULTS: Caregivers with high subjective caregiving burden had a 41% probability of most severe depression category (probability: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.25, 0.57) and an 39% probability of low well-being (probability: 0.39, 95% CI: 0.27, 0.51), compared to caregivers with low subjective burden. Caregivers with high subjective caregiving burden and high objective direct caregiving burden had an adjusted 30% probability of elevated depressive symptoms (PHQ≥10). CONCLUSIONS: Among Indian T1D caregivers, high subjective caregiving burden and objective direct caregiving burden were associated with a high risk for caregiver depression and poorer well-being.

Children With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: Self-Management Experiences in School.

BACKGROUND: Children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) need to perform self-management activities at school and in other environments. Learning about their experiences at school is crucial to assist them in this challenging task. METHODS: Qualitative interviews were conducted with children with T1DM, aged between 7 and 12. A scenario was created and puppets were used during the interviews to help the participating children to communicate about school, daily routines, and experiences in diabetes management. Data were collected over a period of 1 year and analyzed according to content analysis procedures. RESULTS: Nineteen children, 13 boys and 6 girls, at the mean age of 9.8 ± 1.8 years and mean time since diagnosis of 3.3 years, participated in the study. Three themes were identified: lack of information on T1DM, diabetes self-care at school, and support received by the children. CONCLUSIONS: The study provides useful information to understand the children's experiences in managing the disease at school. The partnership between school staff, health teams, children with T1DM, and their families need to be enhanced to promote appropriate strategies that improve the management of diabetes in this setting.

Resilient, Empowered, Active Living with Diabetes (REAL Diabetes) study: Methodology and baseline characteristics of a randomized controlled trial evaluating an occupation-based diabetes management intervention for young adults.

OVERVIEW: This paper describes the study protocol used to evaluate the Resilient, Empowered, Active Living with Diabetes (REAL Diabetes) intervention and reports on baseline characteristics of recruited participants. REAL Diabetes is an activity-based intervention designed to address the needs of young adults diagnosed with type 1 (T1D) or type 2 diabetes (T2D) from low socioeconomic status or racial/ethnic minority backgrounds. The REAL intervention incorporates tailored delivery of seven content modules addressing various dimensions of health and well-being as they relate to diabetes, delivered by a licensed occupational therapist. METHODS: In this pilot randomized controlled trial, participants are assigned to the REAL Diabetes intervention or an attention control condition. The study's primary recruitment strategies included in-person recruitment at diabetes clinics, mass mailings to clinic patients, and social media advertising. Data collection includes baseline and 6-month assessments of primary outcomes, secondary outcomes, and hypothesized mediators of intervention effects, as well as ongoing process evaluation assessment to ensure study protocol adherence and intervention fidelity. RESULTS: At baseline, participants (n=81) were 51% female, 78% Latino, and on average 22.6years old with an average HbA1c of 10.8%. A majority of participants (61.7%) demonstrated clinically significant diabetes distress and 27.2% reported symptoms consistent with major depressive disorder. Compared to participants with T1D, participants with T2D had lower diabetes-related self-efficacy and problem-solving skills. Compared to participants recruited at clinics, participants recruited through other strategies had greater diabetes knowledge but weaker medication adherence. DISCUSSION: Participants in the REAL study demonstrate clinically significant medical and psychosocial needs.

Health-related quality of life of young people with long-term illnesses before and after transfer from child to adult healthcare.

BACKGROUND: The numbers of children with long-term illnesses surviving into adulthood and transferring from child to adult services has increased dramatically in the last 30 years. This study aimed to examine health-related quality of life pre- and post-transfer from child to adult healthcare for young people with three long-term illnesses. METHODS: A total of 217 young people with cystic fibrosis, congenital heart defects or diabetes attending child and adult hospital services in Dublin, Ireland completed a questionnaire survey. Multiple linear regression was used to identify predictors of five dimensions of health-related quality of life pre- and post-transfer. RESULTS: Post-transfer young people with congenital heart disease and diabetes reported significantly lower physical well-being than their pre-transfer counterparts. Pre-transfer young people with cystic fibrosis reported significantly lower physical well-being than those with diabetes, but there was no significant difference post-transfer. Pre-transfer females reported lower scores than males on the Psychological Well-being and Autonomy and Parent Relation dimensions; however, these differences disappeared post-transfer. Higher maternal overprotection scores were associated with significantly lower scores on the Psychological Well-being, Autonomy and Parent Relation, and Social Support and Peers dimensions, regardless of transfer status. CONCLUSIONS: Disease group, gender and maternal overprotection were predictors of health-related quality of life pre- and post-transfer from child to adult healthcare. Transition programmes should promote self-management and discourage parental overprotection.