Identification of GCK-maturity-onset diabetes of the young in cases of neonatal hyperglycemia: A case series and review of clinical features.

Heterozygous mutations in GCK result in a persistent, mildly raised glucose from birth, but it is usually diagnosed in adulthood as maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY), where hyperglycemia is often an incidental finding. The hyperglycemia of GCK-MODY is benign and does not require treatment, but is important to be aware of, particularly in females where it has implications for managing pregnancy. We present three cases of neonatal hyperglycemia resulting from a heterozygous mutation in GCK, illustrating its clinical presentation and evolution in early life. In summary, as with adults, neonatal hyperglycemia is an incidental finding, does not require treatment and has no adverse consequences for health. Neonates and their parents should be referred for genetic testing to confirm the diagnosis, avoid a label of diabetes and enable pregnancy counseling for females found to be affected.

Worse glycemic control, higher rates of diabetic ketoacidosis, and more hospitalizations in children, adolescents, and young adults with type 1 diabetes and anxiety disorders.

The aim of the study was to explore the metabolic characteristics and outcome parameters in youth with type 1 diabetes and anxiety disorders. HbA1c levels, rates of severe hypoglycemia, diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), and hospital admission in children, adolescents, and young adults with type 1 diabetes and an anxiety disorder from 431 diabetes-care-centers participating in the nationwide German/Austrian/Swiss/Luxembourgian diabetes survey DPV were analyzed and compared with youth without anxiety disorders. Children, adolescents, and young adults with type 1 diabetes and anxiety disorders (n = 1325) had significantly higher HbA1c (8.5% vs. 8.2%), higher rates of DKA (4.2 vs. 2.5 per 100 patient-years), and higher hospital admission rates (63.6 vs. 40.0 per 100 patient-years) than youth without anxiety disorders (all p < 0.001). Rates of severe hypoglycemia did not differ. Individuals with anxiety disorders other than needle phobia (n = 771) had higher rates of DKA compared to those without anxiety disorders (4.2 vs. 2.5 per 100 patient-years, p = 0.003) whereas the rate of DKA in individuals with needle phobia (n = 555) was not significantly different compared to those without anxiety disorders. Children, adolescents, and young adults with anxiety disorders other than needle phobia had higher hospitalization rates (73.7 vs. 51.4 per 100 patient-years) and more inpatient days (13.2 vs. 10.1 days) compared to those with needle phobia (all p < 0.001). Children, adolescents, and young adults with type 1 diabetes and anxiety disorders had worse glycemic control, higher rates of DKA, and more hospitalizations compared to those without anxiety disorders. Because of the considerable consequences, clinicians should screen for comorbid anxiety disorders in youth with type 1 diabetes.

Psychological care in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes in a real-world setting and associations with metabolic control.

BACKGROUND: International guidelines recommend psychosocial care for children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. OBJECTIVE: To assess psychological care in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes in a real-world setting and to evaluate associations with metabolic outcome. METHODS: Delivery of psychological care, HbA1c, and rates of severe hypoglycemia and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes from 199 diabetes care centers participating in the German diabetes survey (DPV) were analyzed. RESULTS: Overall, 12 326 out of 31 861 children with type 1 diabetes were supported by short-term or continued psychological care (CPC). Children with psychological care had higher HbA1c (8.0% vs 7.7%, P<.001) and higher rates of DKA (0.032 vs 0.021 per patient-year, P<.001) compared with children without psychological care. In age-, sex-, diabetes duration-, and migratory background-matched children, HbA1c stayed stable in children supported by CPC during follow-up (HbA1c 8.5% one year before psychological care started vs 8.4% after two years, P = 1.0), whereas HbA1c was lower but increased significantly by 0.3% in children without psychological care (HbA1c 7.5% vs 7.8% after two years, P <.001). Additional HbA1c-matching showed that the change in HbA1c during follow-up was not different between the groups, but the percentage of children with severe hypoglycemia decreased from 16.3% to 10.7% in children receiving CPC compared with children without psychological care (5.5% to 5.8%, P =.009). CONCLUSIONS: In this real-world setting, psychological care was provided to children with higher HbA1c levels. CPC was associated with stable glycemic control and less frequent severe hypoglycemia during follow-up.

International benchmarking in type 1 diabetes: Large difference in childhood HbA1c between eight high-income countries but similar rise during adolescence-A quality registry study.

OBJECTIVES: To identify differences and similarities in HbA1c levels and patterns regarding age and gender in eight high-income countries. SUBJECTS: 66 071 children and adolescents below18 years of age with type 1 diabetes for at least 3 months and at least one HbA1c measurement during the study period. METHODS: Pediatric Diabetes Quality Registry data from Austria, Denmark, England, Germany, Norway, Sweden, the United States, and Wales were collected between 2013 and 2014. HbA1c, gender, age, and duration were used in the analysis. RESULTS: Distribution of gender and age groups was similar in the eight participating countries. The mean HbA1c varied from 60 to 73 mmol/mol (7.6%-8.8%) between the countries. The increase in HbA1c between the youngest (0-9 years) to the oldest (15-17 years) age group was close to 8 mmol/mol (0.7%) in all countries (P < .001). Females had a 1 mmol/mol (0.1%) higher mean HbA1c than boys (P < .001) in seven out of eight countries. CONCLUSIONS: In spite of large differences in the mean HbA1c between countries, a remarkable similarity in the increase of HbA1c from childhood to adolescence was found.

[Validation of the German Version of Pediatric Self-Efficacy for Diabetes-Type-1 Scale]. / Validierung der deutschen Version der Pediatric Self-Efficacy for Diabetes-Type-1 Scale.

INTRODUCTION: Since there is no suitable tool for measuring the specific, diabetes-related self-efficacy in children with type-1-diabetes in German language, this paper presents the construction and validation of Pediatric Self-Efficacy for Diabetes-Type-1 Scale (PSEDT-1). The intention was to develop a guideline-compliant, pediatric, revised self-efficacy scale on the basis of Grossman, Brink and Hauser̓s SED. DESIGN: Children with type 1 diabetes (N=221) were included in a clinical, multi-centre validation study. To assess sensitivity to change, 85 of these children were asked to complete the PSEDT-1 before, immediately after, and 6 months after inpatient diabetes training. PSEDT-1 has been associated with scales that measure constructs that are similar and different in terms of content. The interpretation of the correlation results should provide information on validity. The PSEDT-1 was thus reviewed using the German Multidimensional Self-Assessment Scale (MSWS), the German questionnaire on health and illness-related control beliefs (KKG). RESULTS: The reliability results showed a good internal consistency with Cronbach's α=0,87; the discriminatory power of the items was acceptable. Exploratory factor analysis identified 4 factors that account for 54% of the variance: 1) diabetes self-management skill, 2) (medical) insulin management competence, 3) (general) self-assertiveness, 4) autonomous self-regulation. The construct validity of PSEDT-1 has been evaluated by estimating its association with other variables. It was possible to verify the theoretically expected correlation patterns. In addition, the study results showed indications of sufficiently high sensitivity to change. DISCUSSION: The results suggest that PSEDT-1 is a valid and reliable tool that, in addition to the scale values of the competence areas of diabetes self-management, medical management, and general self-assertion, also determines the scale value of autonomous self-regulation to assess diabetes-related self-efficacy.

The association between socio-economic status and diabetes care and outcome in children with diabetes type 1 in Germany: The DIAS study (diabetes and social disparities).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and diabetes outcomes in German children and adolescents. METHODS: A total of 1829 subjects <18 years old with type 1 diabetes mellitus from 13 German diabetes centers were included from June 2013 until June 2014. Data were collected within the multicenter DPV (Diabetes Prospective Follow-up) registry. SES was measured with a composite index. Multivariable regression models were applied to analyze the association of SES and outcomes adjusted for age, sex, diabetes duration, and migration status. RESULTS: Low SES was significantly associated with worse diabetes outcomes: higher hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) (64.3 mmol/mol), lower proportion of insulin pump therapy (43.6%), fewer daily self-monitored blood glucose (SMBG) measurements (5.7), more inpatient days per patient-year (5.8) compared to patients with medium/high SES (HbA1c: 61.3 mmol/mol, P < 0.001/59.8 mmol/mol, P < 0.0001; proportion of pump therapy: 54.5%, P < 0.01/ 54.9%, P < 0.01; SMBG: 6.0, P < 0.01/ 6.1, P < 0.01; inpatient days: 4.5, P < 0.0001/3.4, P < 0.0001). The inclusion of migration status in the models resulted in only minor changes in the outcomes. CONCLUSION: Despite free health care, low SES is associated with unfavorable diabetes outcomes in Germany. The poorer diabetes outcomes of children with diabetes have been attributed to their migration status and may be partly explained by low SES. Both factors must become part of targeted diabetes care in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

Oral contraception in adolescents with type 1 diabetes and its association with cardiovascular risk factors. A multicenter DPV study on 24 011 patients from Germany, Austria or Luxembourg.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate differences in cardiovascular risk factors and metabolic control in girls with type 1 diabetes with or without use of oral contraceptives (OC) from the multicenter "diabetes prospective follow-up" (DPV) registry. METHODS: Twenty-four thousand eleven adolescent girls (13 to < 18 years of age) from Germany, Austria or Luxembourg with type 1 diabetes from the DPV registry were included in this cross-sectional study. Multivariable regression models were applied to compare clinical characteristics (hemoglobin A1c [HbA1C ], blood pressure, serum lipids, body mass index) and lifestyle factors (smoking, physical inactivity, alcohol consumption) between girls with or without OC use. Confounders: age, diabetes duration and migration background. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: SAS 9.4. RESULTS: In girls with type 1 diabetes and OC use, clinical characteristics and lifestyle factors were less favorable compared to non-users. Differences were most pronounced for the prevalence of dyslipidemia (OC-users: 40.0% vs non-users: 29.4; P < .0001) and the number of smokers (OC-users: 25.9% vs non-users: 12.5%; P < .0001). OC use, sociodemographic characteristics and lifestyle factors explained between 1 and 7% of the population variance in serum lipids and blood pressure. The use of OC explained a small additional proportion in all variables considered (<1%). CONCLUSIONS: OC use in adolescent girls with type 1 diabetes was associated with a poorer cardiovascular risk profile. Biological risk factors were partly explained by a clustering of sociodemographic and lifestyle factors with a small additional contribution of OC use. Prescription of OC should therefore be combined with a screening for cardiovascular risk factors and targeted education.

Mental disorders in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: results from the DPV registry.

OBJECTIVES: The COVID-19 pandemic affected the mental health of children and adolescents in the general population, yet its impact on those with chronic conditions is relatively unknown. This study aimed to compare the incidences of comorbid mental disorders and substance misuse in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes before and during the pandemic. METHODS: A total of 42,975 patients aged 6-18 years from the multicentre DPV (Diabetes Prospective Follow-up) registry were included. Multivariable regression models were applied to compare newly diagnosed comorbid mental disorders, adjusted for demographic and clinical variables, among them the number of medical visits, during the pre-pandemic period (09/2017-02/2020) and the COVID-19 pandemic period (03/2020-08/2022). RESULTS: Analysing both sexes together, there were no differences in the incidence rates of overall mental disorders between the pandemic and the pre-pandemic period. However, girls showed an increased incidence rate (odds ratio 1.2, CI 1.1-1.3) during the pandemic. Adolescent girls also displayed higher incidence rates of depression, eating disorders, and self-harm. Substance misuse declined overall during the pandemic (odds ratio 0.8, CI 0.7-0.9). CONCLUSIONS: During the COVID-19 pandemic, we found higher incidence rates of overall mental disorders in girls, but not in boys and not in the total study population of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Adolescent girls displayed increased incidence rates of depression, eating disorders, and self-harm. Substance misuse declined substantially. Clinicians should be aware of the high-risk group of adolescent girls during times of increased strain.

Posttraumatic stress disorder and diabetes-related outcomes in patients with type 1 diabetes.

Mental comorbidities in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) are common, and can have a negative impact on acute blood glucose levels and long-term metabolic control. Information on the association of T1D and comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with diabetes-related outcomes is limited. The aim was to examine the associations between a clinical diagnosis of PTSD and diabetes-related outcomes in patients with T1D. Patients with T1D and comorbid documented PTSD from the DPV database (n = 179) were compared to a group with T1D without PTSD (n = 895), and compared to a group with T1D without comorbid mental disorder (n = 895) by matching demographics (age, gender, duration of diabetes, therapy and migration background) 1:5. Clinical diabetes-related outcomes {body mass index (BMI), hemoglobin A1c (hbA1c), daily insulin dose, diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), hypoglycemia, number of hospital admissions, number of hospital days} were analyzed, stratified by age groups (≤ 25 years vs. > 25 years). Patients with comorbid PTSD aged ≤ 25 years compared with patients without PTSD or patients without mental disorders had significantly higher HbA1c (8.71 vs. 8.30 or 8.24%), higher number of hospital admissions (0.94 vs. 0.44 or 0.32 per year) and higher rates of DKA (0.10 vs. 0.02 or 0.01 events/year). Patients with comorbid PTSD aged ≤ 25 years compared with patients without PTSD had significantly higher BMI (0.85 vs. 0.59) and longer hospital stays (15.89 vs.11.58 days) than patients without PTSD. Patients with PTSD > 25 years compared with patients without PTSD or without any mental comorbidities had significantly fewer hospital admissions (0.49 vs. 0.77 or 0.69), but a longer hospital length of stay (20.35 vs. 11.58 or 1.09 days). We found that PTSD in younger patients with T1D is significantly related to diabetes outcome. In adult patients with T1D, comorbid PTSD is associated with fewer, but longer hospitalizations. Awareness of PTSD in the care of patients with T1D should be raised and psychological intervention should be provided when necessary.

Coeliac disease is associated with depression in children and young adults with type 1 diabetes: results from a multicentre diabetes registry.

AIMS: To analyse the association between coeliac disease (CD) and depression in children, adolescents, and young adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D). METHODS: We included 79,067 T1D patients aged 6-20 years, with at least six months of diabetes duration, and treatment data between 1995 and 2019 were documented in the diabetes patient follow-up registry. We categorized patients into four groups: T1D only (n = 73,699), T1 + CD (n = 3379), T1D + depression (n = 1877), or T1D + CD + depression (n = 112). RESULTS: CD and depression were significantly associated (adjusted OR: 1.25 [1.03-1.53]). Females were more frequent in both the depression and the CD group compared with the T1D only group. Insulin pumps were used more frequently in T1D + CD and T1D + depression compared with T1D only (both p < .001). HbA1c was higher in T1D + depression (9.0% [8.9-9.0]), T1D + CD + depression (8.9% [8.6-9.2]), both compared with T1D only (8.2% [8.2-8.2], all p < .001). We found comorbid autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, schizophrenia, and eating disorders more frequently in the T1D + CD + depression group compared with T1D only (all p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: CD and depression are associated in young T1D patients. The double load of T1D and CD may lead to an increased risk for depression. Depression was associated with additional psychological and neurological comorbidities. Aside from imperative CD screening after T1D diagnosis and regular intervals, depression screening might be helpful in routine care, especially in patients with diagnosed CD.

Design of a Self-Management Program for Children Aged 6-12 Years with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus at the Community Hospital Herdecke, Germany.

BACKGROUND: Children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) must replace lacking endogenous insulin by daily insulin injections or insulin pumps. Standards of treatment include educational programs enabling self-management. The program 'Herdecker Kids with Diabetes' (HeKiDi) is based on an anthroposophic understanding of the human being and intends to provide an individualized, patient-oriented approach to developing diabetes-related and comprehensive human competencies. AIM: Analysis of the HeKiDi program for children (6-12 years) with T1DM as the first part of an evaluation of a complex intervention. METHODS: Ethnographic approach, following the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ), including field observations and interviews with responsible persons, content analysis of materials for determining the structure and the curriculum, presented according to the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR). RESULTS: The curriculum follows the standard but adds a learning circle between the child and the therapeutic team comprising 3 stages: (1) perception of the abilities and needs of the individual child supported by adult mentors themselves suffering from T1DM, (2) reflection within the therapeutic team, and (3) daily feedback to the child. Curricular Learning Objectives: Children feel recognized and supported in their individual developmental and diabetes-related competencies and develop motoric, artistic, communicative, and social skills to strengthen their self-efficacy and to understand T1DM as a lifelong awareness process. CONCLUSIONS: The curriculum including its associated learning goals and methods was presented. The program was explained and shown to be reproducible. Whether this program truly leads to better outcomes in regard to self-efficacy and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c, glycated hemoglobin) and how parents and children perceive this will have to be assessed using a comparative interventional study.

Patient-centered Diabetes Care in Children: An Integrated, Individualized, Systems-oriented, and Multidisciplinary Approach.

BACKGROUND: Type 1 diabetes mellitus in children is associated with various medical, psychological, emotional, social, and organizational hurdles. Patient-centered disease management should address all patient-relevant issues in an individualized, systems-oriented, and multidisciplinary approach. CASE: A 10-year-old girl with type 1 diabetes mellitus, a developmental disorder with motor and sensory dysfunction and dyscalculia was cared for full-time by her mother and an assistant nurse. Receiving standard intensified insulin therapy, she still had poor glucose control with frequent mild and severe hypoglycemic episodes. She was socially isolated and not able to attend peer activities and was frustrated with her situation. The mother was substantially stressed, and the child-mother relationship was endangered. The girl and her family were referred to an integrated, patient-centered, and highly individualized, multidisciplinary diabetic care program that offered self-management education courses and psychosomatic care. A core element was to switch the main focus from technical management and laboratory data to the girl and her specific problems, wishes, goals, needs, and conditions. The child became an active partner in management and decisions. The program offered age-appropriate activities. Consequently, the girl was able to successively self-manage her disease, resulting in a substantial improvement in glucose control, quality of life, satisfaction, and the relationship between mother and daughter. CONCLUSION: Increasing technical sophistication in diabetes management tends to lay the focus on biomedical outcomes. Improved medical and psychosocial results may be achieved when the patient and his or her needs, hurdles, goals, and psychological and social issues are made central to the care he or she receives.

Fundamentación: La diabetes mellitus de tipo 1 en niños conlleva diversas dificultades de tipo médico, psicológico, emocional, social y organizativo. El tratamiento de la enfermedad centrado en el paciente debe abordar todas las cuestiones de importancia para este, con un enfoque individualizado, orientado al sistema y multidisciplinar.Caso: Niña de 10 años con diabetes mellitus de tipo 1, trastorno del desarrollo con disfunción motriz y sensorial y acalculia, atendida en todo momento por su madre y una enfermera auxiliar. Aunque recibía un tratamiento estándar con insulina intensificado, presentaba un mal control de la glucosa, con frecuentes episodios hipoglucémicos de leves a graves. Se encontraba socialmente aislada, no podía asistir a las actividades de los niños de su edad y su situación le provocaba frustración. La madre presentaba un nivel de estrés considerable, y la relación madre-hija peligraba.La niña y su familia fueron derivados a un programa de tratamiento de la diabetes integrado, centrado en el paciente, multidisciplinar y muy individualizado, que ofrecía cursos educativos sobre la gestión de la diabetes por el paciente y atención psicosomática. Un elemento fundamental consistía en desplazar el foco de atención de la gestión técnica y los datos de laboratorio a la niña y sus problemas específicos, sus deseos, objetivos, necesidades y enfermedades. La niña pasó a tener un papel activo en la gestión y en la toma de decisiones. El programa ofrecía actividades adecuadas para su edad. Como resultado, la niña fue capaz de gestionar su enfermedad en lo sucesivo, lo que dio lugar a una sustancial mejora en el control de la glucosa, la calidad de vida, la satisfacción y la relación entre madre e hija.Conclusión: El aumento de la sofisticación técnica en el tratamiento de la diabetes tiende a centrar la atención en los resultados biomédicos. Puede obtenerse una mejora de los resultados médicos y psicosociales cuando el centro de atención se enfoca en el paciente y sus necesidades, dificultades, objetivos y problemas psicológicos y sociales.