Improved CGM Glucometrics and More Visits for Pediatric Type 1 Diabetes Using Telemedicine During 1 Year of COVID-19.

PURPOSE: The COVID-19 pandemic led to rapid adoption of telemedicine for the care of youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D). We assessed the utility of a primarily virtual care model by comparing glucometrics from a pediatric sample with T1D using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) both before and during the pandemic. METHODS: Pediatric patients aged 1 to 17 years with T1D duration ≥ 1 year if ≥ 6 years old or ≥ 6 months if < 6 years old, with ≥ 1 visit with recorded CGM data both prepandemic (April 1, 2019-March 15, 2020) and during the pandemic (April 1, 2020-March 15, 2021) were included. Data were extracted from the electronic health record. RESULTS: Our sample comprised 555 young people (46% male, 87% White, 79% pump-treated), mean age 12.3 ±â€…3.4 years, T1D duration 5.9 ±â€…3.5 years, baseline glycated hemoglobin A1c 8.0 ±â€…1.0% (64 ±â€…10.9 mmol/mol). Diabetes visit frequency increased from 3.8 ±â€…1.7 visits/prepandemic period to 4.3 ±â€…2.2 visits/pandemic period (P < 0.001); during pandemic period, 92% of visits were virtual. Glucose management indicator (GMI) improved slightly from 7.9% (63 mmol/mol) prepandemic to 7.8% (62 mmol/mol) during the pandemic (P < 0.001). Those with equal or greater visit frequency (n = 437 [79% of sample]) had significant improvement in GMI (8.0% to 7.8% [64 to 62 mmol/mol], P < 0.001), whereas those with lower visit frequency did not (7.8 [62 mmol/mol], P = 0.86). CONCLUSIONS: Children and adolescents with T1D using CGM before and during the pandemic showed an overall increase in visit frequency using primarily telemedicine-based care and improved CGM glucometrics. Further research is needed to understand factors associated with successful use of telemedicine for pediatric T1D.

A Text Messaging Intervention With Financial Incentive for Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) have higher hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) levels than others. In general, adolescents engage with text messaging (TM) and financial incentives, both associated with improved diabetes outcomes. This study aimed to assess the impact of a TM intervention with financial incentives on self-care behaviors and HbA1c. METHODS: A six-month randomized controlled trial compared MyDiaText™, a TM education and support application, with standard care. The sample included 166 teens with T1D, 12-18 years old, attending a diabetes clinic. The intervention group received one daily TM and were instructed to respond. Participants who responded to TMs for the most consecutive days were eligible for a financial reward biweekly via lottery. All participants received prompts to complete the self-care inventory (SCI) at baseline, 90, and 180 days. HbA1c was collected at clinic visits. Changes in SCI and HbA1c were analyzed using a multilevel mixed-effects linear regression model. Intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses were performed. RESULTS: The median TM response rate was 59% (interquartile range 40.1%-85.2%) and decreased over time. After adjustment for baseline characteristics, in per-protocol analysis, there was a statistically significant difference in SCI score increase in those receiving one TM per day vs control (P = .035). HbA1c decreased overall, without significant difference between groups (P = .786). CONCLUSIONS: A TM intervention with financial incentives for adolescents with T1D in suboptimal control was associated with increasing self-care report; however, glycemic control did not differ from controls. Further research is needed to develop digital health interventions that will impact glycemic control.

Improvement in Mean CGM Glucose in Young People with Type 1 Diabetes During 1 Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic likely affected youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D). We used electronic health record-extracted data to compare continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) metrics during 1 year of the pandemic with those of the previous year. The sample comprised CGM users, aged 1 to <18 years, with T1D duration ≥6 months (age <6 years) or ≥1 year (age ≥6 years). The prepandemic sample comprised 641 youth (52% female, aged 12.3 ± 3.5, T1D duration 6.0 ± 3.5 years). The pandemic sample comprised 648 youth (52% female, age 13.3 ± 3.5, duration 6.7 ± 3.8 years), with care delivered primarily through telemedicine. Mean CGM glucose was 6.3 mg/dL lower during the pandemic (187.3 ± 35.6) versus prepandemic (193.6 ± 33.0) (P < 0.001). A higher percentage of youth achieved glucose management indicator <7% during the pandemic than the prior year (P < 0.001). Lower CGM glucose values were observed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Future studies are needed to assess how changes in health care delivery, including telemedicine, and lifestyle during this time may have supported this improvement.

Rapid Adoption of Telemedicine Along with Emergent Use of Continuous Glucose Monitors in the Ambulatory Care of Young Persons with New-Onset Type 1 Diabetes in the Time of COVID-19: A Case Series.

Aims: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused strain on hospital systems and potential delay in diagnosis of type 1 diabetes (T1D). Outpatient diagnosis and treatment of metabolically stable young persons with new-onset T1D have been shown to be equivalent to inpatient. We describe an approach to outpatient management of newly diagnosed T1D during the COVID-19 pandemic using an interdisciplinary team, telemedicine, and diabetes technologies including rapid implementation of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). Methods: Following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, new-onset cases of T1D were tracked. After laboratory confirmation of diagnosis and metabolic stability, patients and families were referred for ambulatory initiation of insulin therapy and diabetes education. These cases were reviewed using data extracted from the electronic health record, comments from multidisciplinary team members, and cloud-based glucose data. Results: We report on seven young people with new-onset T1D without diabetic ketoacidosis from April to June 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ages ranged 9-23 years with presenting hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) values 10-14.5%. Initial evaluation was generally face-to-face, followed by frequent telemedicine visits. Five patients had a family history of T1D. Two patients had access to at-home HbA1c kits prompting evaluation in the absence of symptoms. Four patients required emergency department evaluation. Five patients presented with ketosis. All patients were prescribed CGM at the first visit, most starting within 1 month. Conclusions: Technology is extraordinarily useful for the care of young persons with new-onset T1D in the ambulatory setting during the COVID-19 pandemic. Large observational studies are needed to better understand outcomes of an outpatient, technology-focused approach.

Adolescent and Parent Perceptions of Long-Term Type 1 Diabetes Complications.

AIMS: Conversations about diabetes complications with adolescents and parents can be difficult and emotionally charged. To better inform conversations between providers and families, we sought adolescent and parent perspectives regarding their knowledge of long-term complications (LTCs), where they receive this information, and what they would like to learn from clinicians. METHODS: Adolescents with type 1 diabetes and parents of adolescents with type 1 diabetes participated in semistructured interviews querying knowledge of LTCs, sources of information, and preferred ways for providers to discuss LTCs. Interview transcripts were coded and categorized into central themes by content analysis. RESULTS: Participants included 22 adolescents (17.4 ± 1.7 years of age, diabetes duration 9.7 ± 4.0 years) and 25 parents (41-60 years of age, 84% mothers). Five themes related to complications were identified: 1) "Limited Adolescent Knowledge of Complications," 2) "Discussing Complications Is Important but Not Now or Not for Me," 3) "Outside Sources Overestimate Risk," 4) "Avoid Scare Tactics" and 5) "Emphasize Prevention." Adolescent and parent perspectives were similar, although parents showed greater understanding of complications. CONCLUSION: When discussing complications, individualized, factual, positive, and prevention-focused conversations may be better received by adolescents with type 1 diabetes and their families.

Improving Disposition Decision-Making for Pediatric Diabetic Ketoacidosis: A Quality Improvement Study.

INTRODUCTION: In many centers, children with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) receive care either in an endocrinology ward or a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). We conducted a quality improvement (QI) initiative to reduce potentially avoidable PICU admissions of children with DKA without increasing endocrinology ward-to-PICU transfers. METHODS: A survey of providers demonstrated opportunities to increase awareness of institutional criteria for PICU admissions of children with DKA. We created an electronic health record (EHR) dot-phrase, prepopulated with these criteria, and placed a note in the EHR for all patients with DKA as a reference for all providers. An EHR-based data report was created to monitor the disposition of DKA patients and the use of the dot-phrase (process measure). The primary outcome measure was the potentially avoidable PICU admissions for patients with DKA. Endocrinology ward-to-PICU transfers were tracked as a balancing measure to ensure safe disposition. RESULTS: After the implementation of the dot-phrase, use was variable, but averaged 33.4% over 1 year. The percentage of DKA admissions classified as potentially avoidable PICU stays decreased from 4.1% to 0.5%, with a concurrent decrease in the total percentage of PICU admissions for DKA from 19.1% to 8.4%. The percentage of endocrinology ward-to-PICU transfers also declined from 0.8% to 0%. CONCLUSIONS: A novel EHR-based intervention increasing awareness and documentation of established pediatric DKA management guidelines can be used to safely reduce PICU admissions for DKA without increasing the rate of endocrinology ward-to-intensive care unit transfers.

MyDiaText™: Feasibililty and Functionality of a Text Messaging System for Youth With Type 1 Diabetes.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility and functionality of MyDiaText™, a website and text messaging platform created to support behavior change in adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) and to evaluate user satisfaction of the application. METHODS: This study was a nonrandomized, prospective, pilot trial to test the feasibility and user interface with MyDiaText, a text message system for 10- to 17-year-old youths with newly diagnosed T1DM. Feasibility was evaluated by assessing for the user's ability to create a profile on the website. Functionality was defined by assessing whether a subject responded to at least 2 text messages per week and by their accumulating points on the website. User satisfaction of the text messaging system was assessed using an electronic survey. The 4 phases of this study were community engagement-advisory sessions, screening and enrollment, intervention, and follow-up. RESULTS: Twenty subjects (14 male, 6 female) were enrolled. All subjects were able to create a profile, and of these, 86% responded to at least 2 text messages per week. A survey administered during follow-up showed that users enjoyed reading text messages, found them useful, and thought the frequency of messages was appropriate. CONCLUSION: MyDiaText is a feasible, functional behavioral support tool for youth with T1DM. Users of the application reported high satisfaction with text messages and the reward system.

Thyroid Function Testing in Neonates With Maternal History of Disease.

Maternal history of thyroid disease can cause congenital hypothyroidism due to thyroid-stimulatng hormone (TSH) blocking antibodies. No guidelines exist regarding testing beyond the newborn screen. TSH and T4 levels exhibit significant fluctuations after birth which complicates testing. A total of 561 newborns with thyroid function testing done for maternal history of thyroid disease in the newborn nursery were identified retrospectively via chart review, and thyroid disease status was assessed in 352. Newborn screening data were also obtained. Of these infants, 7 had hypothyroidism with 3 having negative newborn screens. No cases of neonatal graves were identified. The 3 infants with negative newborn screens had TSH levels ranging from 6.58 to 28.4 prior to treatment with levothyroxine. All required treatment beyond age 3 years, despite trial off levothyroxine. Infants with maternal history of thyroid disease may require additional testing beyond the newborn screen. However, providers can consider delaying test until after thyroid levels are more stable.