Quality of Life in Type 1 Diabetes and Celiac Disease: Role of the Gluten-Free Diet.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate quality of life (QoL) and glycemic control in youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and celiac disease vs T1D only. We hypothesized that QoL scores would be lower in youth with T1D and celiac disease and those nonadherent to the gluten-free diet (GFD). STUDY DESIGN: This case control study included 35 youth with T1D and 35 with T1D and celiac disease matched for age, sex, diabetes duration, and hemoglobin A1c level. QoL was assessed in participants and parents using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Generic Core Scale, Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Diabetes Module. and the General Well-Being Scale; youth with T1D and celiac disease also completed the celiac disease-specific DUX questionnaire and parents completed the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Family Impact Scale. Questionnaires were scored from 0 to 100; higher scores indicate better QoL or well-being. Scores were compared between T1D vs T1D with celiac disease, with subgroup analysis by GFD adherence vs nonadherence and therapy (continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion vs multiple daily injections). RESULTS: Youth with T1D and celiac disease reported similar generic and diabetes-specific QoL to T1D only. GFD nonadherent vs adherent youth reported lower diabetes-specific QoL (mean score 58 vs 75, P = .003) and lower general well-being (57 vs 76, P = .02), as did their parents (50 vs 72, P = .006), and hemoglobin A1c was higher (9.6% vs 8.0%, P = .02). Youth with T1D and celiac disease using continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion vs multiple daily injections had similar generic and diabetes-specific QoL and A1C (8.6 vs 8.2%, P = .44), but were less happy having to follow a lifelong diet (59 vs 29, P = .007). CONCLUSIONS: Youth with T1D and celiac disease who do not adhere to the GFD have lower QoL and worse glycemic control. Novel strategies are required to understand and improve adherence in those with both conditions.

Metabolic correlates with obstructive sleep apnea in obese subjects.

OBJECTIVE: To examine links between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia. STUDY DESIGN: Obese (body mass index [BMI] >95th percentile for age and gender) children who snored (n = 62, 46 males, age 10.89 [5-16 years] underwent polysomnography and metabolic studies. RESULTS: Respiratory disturbance index (RDI) was 9.23 (0-95), with 23 children (39%) recommended for treatment. Fasting insulin levels were 154.6 pmol/L +/- 79.8 (52-486), and fasting glucose levels were high in 7 children (11%). Fasting insulin levels correlated with sleep variables, including log transformed RDI (log(10)RDI) (P =.01), desaturation events (P =.05), arousal index (P =.01), and sleep-time with oxygen saturation in arterial blood <90% (P =.03) (adjusted r (2) = 0.21, F = 3.9, P =.005), but not with age, or BMI Z score. Log(10)RDI correlated with fasting insulin (P =.001) and BMI Z score (P =.03) (adjusted r (2) = 0.12, F = 3.9, P =.005), but not age or other metabolic variables. The correlation between log(10)RDI and fasting insulin persisted in models combining sleep and metabolic variables: log(10)RDI, adjusted r (2) = 0.75, F = 35.2, P <.001, and for fasting insulin, adjusted r (2) = 0.42, F = 6.1, and P <.001. CONCLUSIONS: The severity of OSA (log(10)RDI) correlated with fasting insulin levels, independent of BMI. Insulin levels may be further elevated as a consequence of OSA in obese children.