Observed collaborative and intrusive parenting behaviours associated with psychosocial outcomes of adolescents with type 1 diabetes and their maternal caregivers.

AIMS: Maternal caregiver involvement is strongly associated with psychosocial and glycemic outcomes amongst adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D); however, previous studies have lacked detailed, objective examinations of caregiver involvement. We examined the relationship between observed parenting behaviors and psychosocial and glycemic outcomes amongst youth with T1D. METHODS: Data collected from adolescents with T1D (age 11-17) and their female caregivers as a part of a randomized controlled trial were analyzed. These included structured, observation-based scores of adolescent-caregiver dyads engaged in videotaped interactions and selected psychosocial and glycemic outcome measures. RESULTS: In adjusted analyses, higher levels of intrusive parenting behaviors during observed interactions were associated with higher diabetes distress in adolescents, but no difference in HbA1c. Associations between intrusive parenting behaviors and psychosocial outcomes were stronger for females compared to males for both diabetes distress and quality of life. Similarly, associations between collaborative parenting behaviors and quality of life were stronger for female adolescents than males. No associations were observed between collaborative parenting behaviors and glycemic outcomes. Consistent with previous work, we noted higher levels of adolescent-reported family conflict were associated with lower adolescent quality of life and higher diabetes distress with no significant difference between male and female adolescents. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that high levels of intrusive parenting behaviors, such as lecturing or over-controlling behaviors, are associated with lower levels of adolescent well-being, particularly among adolescent girls. This work suggests that interventions to reduce intrusive parenting by maternal caregivers could result in improved psychosocial outcomes for adolescents with T1D.

Towards the standardisation of adult person-reported outcome domains in diabetes research: A Consensus Statement development panel.

Diabetes is unique among chronic diseases because clinical outcomes are intimately tied to how the person living with diabetes reacts to and implements treatment recommendations. It is further characterised by widespread social stigma, judgement and paternalism. This physical, social and psychological burden collectively influences self-management behaviours. It is widely recognised that the individual's perspective about the impact of trying to manage the disease and the burden that self-management confers must be addressed to achieve optimal health outcomes. Standardised, rigorous assessment of mental and behavioural health status, in interaction with physical health outcomes is crucial to aid understanding of person-reported outcomes (PROs). Whilst tempting to conceptualise PROs as an issue of perceived quality of life (QoL), in fact health-related QoL is multi-dimensional and covers indicators of physical or functional health status, psychological and social well-being. This complexity is illuminated by the large number of person reported outcome measures (PROMs) that have been developed across multiple psychosocial domains. Often measures are used inappropriately or because they have been used in the scientific literature rather than based on methodological or outcome assessment rigour. Given the broad nature of psychosocial functioning/mental health, it is important to broadly define PROs that are evaluated in the context of therapeutic interventions, real-life and observational studies. This report summarises the central themes and lessons derived in the assessment and use of PROMs amongst adults with diabetes. Effective assessment of PROMs routinely in clinical research is crucial to understanding the true impact of any intervention. Selecting appropriate measures, relevant to the specific factors of PROs important in the research study will provide valuable data alongside physical health data.

Detangling Associations Between Maternal Depressive Symptoms and Diabetes Relationship Distress With Adolescents' HbA1c.

OBJECTIVE : Previous research in families of children with type 1 diabetes demonstrates that maternal depressive symptoms are a known risk factor for poor diabetes outcomes. We sought to examine whether maternal diabetes relationship distress or maternal depressive symptoms were more strongly associated with adolescent glycemic outcomes. METHODS : Analyses were conducted using data from mothers who consented to screen for a behavioral intervention. The screener included the Patient Health Questionnaire and the Parent Diabetes Distress Scale, Parent/Teen Relationship Distress subscale. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) was extracted from adolescents' medical records. RESULTS : Our sample consisted of 390 maternal caregivers of adolescents with type 1 diabetes aged 11-17. Screening data revealed that 35% of mothers reported clinically significant diabetes distress related to their relationship with their adolescents, and 14% of mothers reported clinically significant depressive symptoms. The adolescents of mothers who reported diabetes relationship distress had significantly higher mean HbA1c levels (9.7 ± 2.2%) compared to those whose mothers were not distressed (8.2 ± 1.8%, d = .72). Similarly, adolescents whose mothers reported clinically significant depressive symptoms had higher mean HbA1c levels (9.6 ± 2.4%) than those whose mothers were not depressed (8.6 ± 2.0%, d = .48). After adjusting for clinical and demographic factors, mothers' reports of diabetes relationship distress were more strongly associated with adolescents' HbA1c than maternal depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS : Our findings suggest that screening for maternal distress-particularly distress related to the caregiver-adolescent relationship-could match families with psychosocial support or other resources to improve both psychosocial and glycemic outcomes.

Using Community Engagement Methods to Guide Study Protocol Decisions for School-Aged Children With Type 1 Diabetes.

Introduction: Many challenges exist in developing multisite protocols for newly diagnosed children with type 1 diabetes. Our research team engaged community members to increase the likelihood of study success during a planning grant for a longitudinal study aimed at understanding risk and protective factors for neurocognitive function in school-aged children newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Methods: Two methods were used to obtain caregiver input into study protocol decisions. The first was a survey given to caregivers of children with diabetes (n = 21) about which aspects of the study protocol would make families more or less likely to participate. The second was a Community Engagement (CE) Studio to obtain recommendations from a diverse group of caregivers of children with diabetes (n = 7) on key aspects of recruitment and enrollment. Results: Results from both the survey and the CE Studio indicated that caregivers were interested and willing to participate in a longitudinal study of this nature. Both methods resulted in similar preferences for the type and amount of compensation, convenient study visits, flexible scheduling options, and receipt of neurocognitive test results. Recommendations from the CE Studio included additional strategies to minimize participant burden and enhance communication around study participation. Conclusion: Both the feasibility survey and the CE Studio were useful mechanisms to obtain caregiver input during the study's planning and design phase. Uniquely, the CE Studio approach offers researchers the ability to gain valuable community member input with minimal staff effort.

Importance of caregivers' subjective social status and neighbourhood disadvantage for adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

AIMS: Adolescents with type 1 diabetes from low-income populations are more likely to have difficulty in managing their diabetes and ultimately have poorer glycaemic outcomes, but less is known about neighbourhood-level factors or subjective social status (SSS) as risk/protective factors. We examined associations between multiple indicators of socio-economic status with diabetes outcomes. METHODS: One hundred and ninety-eight adolescents ages 13-17 (58% female, 58% White, non-Hispanic) experiencing moderate diabetes distress completed measures of diabetes management and diabetes distress, and their caregivers reported on SSS. Glycaemic indicators were extracted from medical records, and participants' addresses were used to determine area deprivation index (ADI). RESULTS: Higher levels of neighbourhood disadvantage were significantly associated with higher haemoglobin A1c levels and average glucose levels, but caregivers' SSS was more strongly associated with all glycaemic indicators, diabetes management and diabetes distress. CONCLUSIONS: Given strong associations between caregivers' SSS and glycaemic control, diabetes management, and diabetes distress, screening for caregivers' SSS may identify adolescents who would benefit from additional support.

Using Mixed Methods Research in Children with Type 1 Diabetes: a Methodological Review.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Many factors influence disease management and glycemic levels in children with type 1 diabetes (T1D). However, these concepts are hard to examine in children using only a qualitative or quantitative research paradigm. Mixed methods research (MMR) offers creative and unique ways to study complex research questions in children and their families. RECENT FINDINGS: A focused, methodological literature review revealed 20 empirical mixed methods research (MMR) studies that included children with T1D and/or their parents/caregivers. These studies were examined and synthesized to elicit themes and trends in MMR. Main themes that emerged included disease management, evaluation of interventions, and support. There were multiple inconsistencies between studies when reporting MMR definitions, rationales, and design. Limited studies use MMR approaches to examine concepts related to children with T1D. Findings from future MMR studies, especially ones that use child-report, may illuminate ways to improve disease management and lead to better glycemic levels and health outcomes.

Sedentary Behavior and Physical Activity Associated with Psychosocial Outcomes in Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes.

Background: Adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) are particularly vulnerable to poor psychosocial outcomes-high rates of diabetes distress and poor quality of life are common among this cohort. Previous work in the general population demonstrated positive associations between quality of life and increases in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), as well as decreased sedentary behavior. While survey-based assessments of young adults with T1D observed similar trends, these studies were limited by their use of subjective assessments of MVPA and sedentary behavior. The use of direct activity monitoring is needed to establish the association between psychosocial outcomes and MVPA and sedentary behavior among adolescents with T1D. Objective: To explore the association between objectively measured MVPA and sedentary behavior on psychosocial outcomes among adolescents with T1D. Subjects and Methods: The current study is a secondary analysis of baseline data collected for a pilot trial of sleep-promoting intervention for adolescents with T1D. Participants (n = 29, with a mean age of 15.9 ± 1.3 years) completed baseline surveys and wore an actigraph for a week following the baseline visit. We examined minutes per week of MVPA and proportion of awake time spent sedentary in relation to adolescents' diabetes distress, depressive symptoms, and diabetes-related quality of life. Results: Participants engaged in a mean of 19.6 ± 22.4 minutes of MVPA per day and spent 68.6 ± 9.9% of their awake time sedentary. MVPA was associated with lower diabetes distress in unadjusted (-3.6; 95% CI: -6.4 to -0.8) and adjusted (-2.6; 95% CI: -5.0--0.3) analyses. Sedentary time was associated with higher diabetes distress in adjusted (6.3; 95% CI: 1.3-11.2) but not unadjusted (6.0; 95% CI: -5.6-12.6) analyses. In secondary analyses, we did not observe significant associations between quality of life or depressive symptoms with either MVPA or sedentary behavior. Discussion: Our findings extend previous survey-based work demonstrating an association between decreased diabetes distress with greater weekly MVPA and lower sedentary time. The current study highlights the multifaceted benefits of physical activity in this population and provides preliminary evidence for developing interventions to reduce sedentary time as an alternative method to improve psychosocial outcomes in this at-risk population.

A pragmatic low carbohydrate diet intervention changes neither carbohydrate consumption nor glycemia in adolescents and young adults with type 1 diabetes in a randomized trial.

OBJECTIVE: Despite enthusiasm for low carbohydrate diets (LCDs) among patients with type 1 diabetes (T1DM), no prospective study has investigated outcomes in adolescent T1DM. We aimed to quantify a pragmatic LCD intervention's impact on glycemia, lipidemia, and quality of life (QOL) in adolescents with T1DM. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: At an academic center, we randomized 39 patients with T1DM aged 13-21 years to one of three 12-week interventions: an LCD, an isocaloric standard carbohydrate diet (SCD), or general diabetes education without a prescriptive diet. Glycemic outcomes included glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and continuous glucose monitoring. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in glycemic, lipidemic, or QOL parameters between groups at any timepoint. Median HbA1c was similar at baseline between groups and did not change appreciably (7.9%-8.4% in LCDs, 7.9%-7.9% in SCDs, and 8.2%-7.8% in controls). Change in carbohydrate consumption was minimal with only one participant reaching target carbohydrate intake. CONCLUSIONS: This pragmatic LCD intervention did not alter carbohydrate consumption or glycemia. Although this study was unable to evaluate a highly controlled LCD, it indicates that adolescents are unlikely to implement an educational LCD intervention in routine clinic settings. Thus, this approach is unlikely to effectively mitigate hyperglycemia in adolescents.

Demographic and Glycemic Factors Linked With Diabetes Distress in Teens With Type 1 Diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: Diabetes distress (DD) is a negative emotional response related to the burdens of living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and is linked with diabetes outcomes, such as hemoglobin A1c (A1c). Yet, less is known about how other glycemic indicators, average blood glucose and time in range, relate to DD, and which demographic characteristics are associated with higher DD. METHODS: In total, 369 teens (Mage 15.6 ± 1.4, 51% female, MT1D duration 6.7 ± 3.8 years) screened for DD using The Problem Areas in Diabetes-Teen Version to determine eligibility for an ongoing multi-site behavioral trial. The associations of DD, demographic factors, and glycemic indicators (A1c, average blood glucose, and time in range) were analyzed. RESULTS: Twenty-nine percent of teens (n = 95) scored above the clinical cutoff (≥44) for DD. Females scored significantly higher on average than males. Black/African American, non-Hispanic youth screened significantly higher compared to youth from other racial/ethnic groups. Higher DD scores were related to higher A1c and average blood glucose, and lower time in range. Logistic regression models revealed that females were significantly more likely to report clinically elevated DD than males, and teens with higher A1c were 1.3 times more likely to report DD. Age and diabetes duration were not significantly associated with clinically elevated DD scores. CONCLUSIONS: Results demonstrated that DD is most prevalent in Black, non-Hispanic and female teens, and DD is associated with higher average blood glucose and lower time in range. Further investigation into these disparities is warranted to promote optimal health outcomes for teens with T1D.

Sleep Habits of Early School-Aged Children with Type 1 Diabetes and Their Parents: Family Characteristics and Diabetes Management.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: School-aged children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and their parents are at risk for sleep disturbances, yet few studies have used objective measures to assess sleep characteristics in young children with T1D. METHODS: Forty children (ages 5-9) with T1D and their parents wore actigraph watches and completed sleep diaries for 7 nights. Parents also completed questionnaires about demographic information, diabetes distress, fear of hypoglycemia, and family routines. Children's clinical data (HbA1c and blood glucose data) were extracted from the medical record. RESULTS: Most of the children and their parents obtained insufficient sleep. Based on actigraphy data, children slept an average of 7.9 hours/night and parents slept 6.7 hours/night, below the recommendations of 9-11 and 7-9 hours of sleep, respectively. Shorter child sleep latency was significantly associated with better glycemic levels, and parents' sleep duration and efficiency were related to child's glycemic levels. Parental fear of hypoglycemia and lack of family routines were associated with poorer sleep quality in parents and children, and with parental diabetes distress. CONCLUSIONS: Sleep duration and quality is a modifiable target for potentially improving glycemic levels and parental distress in early school-aged children with T1D.

Brain Health in Children with Type 1 Diabetes: Risk and Protective Factors.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To synthesize findings from studies of neurocognitive complications in children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and highlight potential risk and protective factors. RECENT FINDINGS: Emerging evidence suggests that hyperglycemia and time in range may be more important for brain development than episodes of hypoglycemia. Further, diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) at the time of T1D diagnosis appears to be a particular risk factor for neurocognitive complications, particularly deficits in executive function skills and memory, with differences in cerebral white matter microstructure seen via advanced magnetic resonance imaging methods, and lower scores on measures of attention and memory observed among children who were diagnosed in DKA. Other factors that may influence neurocognitive development include child sleep, caregiver distress, and diabetes device use, presumably due to improved glycemic control. We highlight neurocognitive risk and protective factors for children with T1D and priorities for future research in this high-risk population.

Advances, Challenges, and Cost Associated with Continuous Glucose Monitor Use in Adolescents and Young Adults with Type 1 Diabetes.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Continuous glucose monitors (CGM) are transforming diabetes management, yet adolescents and young adults (AYA) with type 1 diabetes (T1D) do not experience the same benefits seen with CGM use in adults. The purpose of this review is to explore advances, challenges, and the financial impact of CGM use in AYA with T1D. RECENT FINDINGS: CGM studies in young adults highlight challenges and suggest unique barriers to CGM use in this population. Recent studies also demonstrate differences in CGM use related to race and ethnicity, raising questions about potential bias and emphasizing the importance of patient-provider communication. Cost of these devices remains a significant barrier, especially in countries without nationalized reimbursement of CGM. More research is needed to understand and address the differences in CGM utilization and to increase the accessibility of CGM therapy given the significant potential benefits of CGM in this high-risk group.

Pilot Trial of a Sleep-Promoting Intervention for Children With Type 1 Diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility and acceptability of an educational sleep-promoting intervention (Sleep Coach Jr.) for school-aged children (ages 5-9) with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and their parents. METHODS: Parents and children (N = 39 dyads, mean child age = 8 years, 64% girls,) were randomized to either the Sleep Coach Jr. intervention, consisting of educational materials and three individual phone calls (N = 20), or the Standard Care condition (N = 19). Data were collected at enrollment and 3 months later. Children and parents wore actigraphy devices to obtain an objective measure of sleep characteristics, and parents completed questionnaire measures of sleep quality and psychosocial outcomes. Clinical data (i.e., hemoglobin A1c, glucose data) were obtained from children's medical records. RESULTS: Feasibility and acceptability of the study were demonstrated to be high; all three sessions were completed by 80% of parents randomized to the Sleep Coach Jr. intervention, and 90% of parents completed follow-up data at 3 months. Parents reported high levels of satisfaction with the study and identified barriers to participation. No changes were observed in children's sleep or diabetes outcomes, but parental sleep quality and well-being improved. CONCLUSIONS: A brief, behavioral sleep-promoting intervention is feasible and acceptable for school-aged children with T1D and their parents. A larger trial is needed to evaluate efficacy of the intervention.

Sleep coach intervention for teens with type 1 diabetes: Randomized pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Teens with type 1 diabetes (T1D) experience increased sleep disturbances, which have been linked to problems with adherence and glycemic control. As such, sleep represents a novel target to improve outcomes in teens. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a sleep-promoting intervention in teens with T1D. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Teens aged 13 to 17 with T1D (n = 39) completed measures of sleep quality and diabetes management and wore actigraphs to obtain an objective measure of sleep. Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) was collected from medical records. Teens were randomized to Usual Care (n = 19) or the Sleep Coach intervention (n = 20). Teens in the Sleep Coach group received educational materials on healthy sleep habits and completed three individual telephone sessions. Follow-up data were collected at 3 months, including exit interviews with teens and parents. RESULTS: Feasibility of the study was excellent; 80% of teens in the Sleep Coach group completed all three sessions, and retention was high (90%). Based on actigraphy data, a significant improvement in sleep efficiency and sleep duration was observed (48-minute increase) among teens randomized to the Sleep Coach intervention, and teens in the control group were 7.5 times more likely to report poor sleep quality after 3 months than intervention participants. No change in HbA1c was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The Sleep Coach intervention for teens with T1D is a feasible and acceptable program that increased sleep duration and improved sleep quality for this high-risk population.

Assessing Health-Related Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents with Diabetes: Development and Psychometrics of the Type 1 Diabetes and Life (T1DAL) Measures.

OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate new measures of diabetes-specific health-related quality of life (HRQOL) for people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) that are brief, developmentally appropriate, and usable in clinical research and care. Here we report on the phases of developing and validating the self-report Type 1 Diabetes and Life (T1DAL) measures for children (age 8-11) and adolescents (age 12-17). METHODS: Measure development included qualitative interviews with youth and parents (n = 16 dyads) followed by piloting draft measures and conducting cognitive debriefing with youth (n = 9) to refine the measures. To evaluate the psychometric properties, children (n = 194) and adolescents (n = 257) at three T1D Exchange Clinic Network sites completed the age-appropriate T1DAL measure and previously validated questionnaires measuring related constructs. Using psychometric data, the investigators reduced the length of each T1DAL measure to 21 and 23 items, respectively, and conducted a final round of cognitive debriefing with six children and adolescents. RESULTS: The T1DAL measures for children and adolescents demonstrated good internal consistency (α = 0.84 and 0.89, respectively) and test-retest reliability (r = 0.78 and 0.80, respectively). Significant correlations between the T1DAL scores and measures of general quality of life, generic and diabetes-specific HRQOL, diabetes burden, and diabetes strengths demonstrated construct validity. Correlations with measures of self-management (child and adolescent) and glycemic control (adolescent only) demonstrated criterion validity. Factor analyses indicated four developmentally specific subscales per measure. Participants reported satisfaction with the measures. CONCLUSIONS: The new T1DAL measures for children and adolescents with T1D are reliable, valid, and suitable for use in care settings and clinical research.

Randomized Trial of a Positive Psychology Intervention for Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of a positive psychology intervention for adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) on adherence, glycemic control, and quality of life. METHODS: Adolescents with T1D (n = 120) and their caregivers were randomized to either an Education (EDU) (n = 60) or Positive Affect (PA) intervention (n = 60). Adolescents in the PA group received the intervention reminders (gratitude, self-affirmation, parental affirmation, and small gifts) via text messages or phone calls over 8 weeks. Questionnaires were completed by adolescents and caregivers and clinical data (glucometer and HbA1c) were collected at baseline 3 and 6 months. Data were analyzed using generalized linear modeling. RESULTS: After adjusting for covariates, adolescents in the PA group demonstrated significant improvement in quality of life at 3 months, compared to the EDU group, but this was not sustained at 6 months. Similarly, the PA group showed a significant decrease in disengagement coping at 3 months but not at 6 months. There was no significant intervention effect on blood glucose monitoring, but the odds of clinically significantly improvement (checking at least one more time/day) were about twice as high in the PA group as the EDU group. No significant effects were found for glycemic control. CONCLUSIONS: A positive psychology intervention had initial significant, positive effects on coping and quality of life in adolescents with T1D. A more intensive or longer-lasting intervention may be needed to sustain these effects and to improve adherence and glycemic control.

Performance-based and questionnaire measures of executive function in adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

The purpose of the current study was to examine executive function (EF) in adolescents with type 1 diabetes using both performance-based and questionnaire measures in relation to diabetes indicators. Adolescents age 13-17 completed performance-based measures of EF and measures of adherence. Adolescents' parents reported on adolescents' EF and adherence. HbA1c and frequency of blood glucose monitoring (glucometer data) were obtained from adolescents' medical records. None of the performance-based measures of EF were significantly associated with adherence or with HbA1c. Parent-reported problems with EF were associated with poorer adherence, and adolescents who scored in the impaired range of the Behavioral Regulation Index of EF had significantly poorer adherence (both parent-reported adherence and frequency of blood glucose monitoring) and higher HbA1c than those in the normal range. Our findings suggest that parent-reported measures of EF may be more strongly linked to diabetes indicators than performance-based measures.

Sleep in Type 1 Diabetes: Implications for Glycemic Control and Diabetes Management.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To highlight recent findings from studies of sleep in type 1 diabetes (T1D), with a focus on the role of sleep in self-management, the cognitive and psychosocial outcomes related to sleep disturbances, and factors associated with sleep disturbances specific to T1D. RECENT FINDINGS: People with T1D experience higher rates of sleep disturbances than people without diabetes, and these disturbances have negative implications for glycemic control and diabetes management, as well as psychosocial and cognitive outcomes. Inconsistent sleep timing (bedtime and wake time) has emerged as a potential target for interventions, as variability in sleep timing has been linked with poorer glycemic control and adherence to treatment. Sleep-promoting interventions and new diabetes technology have the potential to improve sleep in people with T1D. Sleep is increasingly considered a critical factor in diabetes management, but more multi-method and longitudinal research is needed. We emphasize the importance of sufficient and consistent sleep for people with T1D, and the need for providers to routinely assess sleep among patients with T1D.

Sleep habits in adolescents with type 1 diabetes: Variability in sleep duration linked with glycemic control.

OBJECTIVE: To describe adolescents' sleep on school and weekend nights using multiple methods and to examine the links between sleep variability, quality, and duration with diabetes indicators. METHODS: Adolescents with type 1 diabetes (N = 65, mean age = 15.0, 52.3% female, mean HbA1c = 8.9% or 74 mmol/mol) wore an actigraph and kept daily diaries recording sleep, activities, and blood glucose monitoring (BGM) habits for at least 7 days. Average daily BGM and blood glucose (BG) levels were obtained through glucometer downloads. HbA1c was obtained as part of clinic visits. Adolescents completed a sleep quality questionnaire (Pittsburgh sleep quality index [PSQI]), and adolescents and caregivers reported on adherence to diabetes treatment. RESULTS: Adolescents reported a mean PSQI global score of 5.37, which is above the clinical cutoff for poor sleep quality. Actigraphy data revealed that mean adolescent total sleep time was 6:54 (h:min), and participants slept more on weekend nights than on school nights (P < .001). Additionally, variability in sleep duration was significantly related to HbA1c, frequency of BGM, and average BG. Total sleep time and self-reported sleep quality were not significantly associated with adherence or glycemic control. CONCLUSIONS: Few adolescents with type 1 diabetes met recommendations for sleep duration, and many reported poor sleep quality. We identified significant associations between variability in sleep duration with poorer glycemic control and less frequent BGM, supporting the need to consider sleep patterns as a modifiable factor that may affect adherence and glycemic control.

Cyclic bisphosphonate therapy reduces pain and improves physical functioning in children with osteogenesis imperfecta.

BACKGROUND: Children with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) experience pain and impaired physical functioning. The longitudinal effect of cyclic bisphosphonate treatment on these symptoms has not been described. We serially evaluated pain and functioning in pediatric patients with OI treated with intravenous bisphosphonate therapy. METHODS: Pain and physical functioning were assessed at multiple time-points over two infusion cycles in 22 OI patients (median age 10 years [range 2-21 years]; 8 girls) receiving cyclic intravenous bisphosphonate therapy. Pain was assessed using the FACES® visual analogue scale; physical functioning, including self-care, was assessed using the PedsQL™ Generic Core inventory. RESULTS: Pain scores decreased significantly immediately following infusion and remained reduced at 4 weeks post-infusion, increasing before and decreasing again after subsequent infusion (F = 25.00, p < 0.001). Physical functioning scaled scores improved 4 weeks after infusion and declined before subsequent infusion across patients (F = 10.87, p = 0.007). Exploratory analyses indicated significantly different effects between mild and moderate-severe OI types for pain, but not for physical functioning. No fractures occurred during the study. CONCLUSION: In children with OI, cyclic intravenous bisphosphonate therapy transiently reduces pain and improves functional abilities. Pain relief occurs immediately following infusion with functional improvements observed 4 weeks later. Both pain and physical functioning return to pretreatment levels by the subsequent infusion.