Predictors of diabetes-related quality of life after transitioning to the insulin pump.

OBJECTIVE: To examine family and individual psychosocial, medical, and demographic factors associated with improved diabetes-related quality of life (QOL) after transitioning to the insulin pump among youth with type 1 diabetes. METHOD: Fifty-three parent-child dyads completed questionnaires on four occasions prior to and following this medical regimen change, assessing QOL, family environment, depressive and anxiety symptoms, and medical and demographic information. Trajectories of change in QOL were analyzed using multilevel modeling. RESULT: Psychosocial, medical, and demographic characteristics were associated with QOL prior to pump-start. Elements of children's QOL significantly improved after the transition, and improvement was predicted by psychosocial, medical, and demographic characteristics. CONCLUSION: Results indicate that individual and contextual factors may play a role in QOL as children transition to the insulin pump. Findings may guide efforts to support families through this challenging time and potentially inform candidacy for transition to the pump.