Introduction & Objectives: Latinx youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D) experience disparities and worse health outcomes compared to their Non-Hispanic White (NHW) peers, yet very little is known about mental health in Latinx youth with T1D. This study aimed to describe mental health, glycemic control, and connections between these factors among Latinx and NHW youth with T1D.

Methods: Youth 10-17y (M±SDage=14.3±1.7y) with T1D participating in an observational study completed validated questionnaires within six months of their last HbA1c to assess domains recommended by ADA clinical guidelines: depression, anxiety, fear of hypoglycemia, fear of hyperglycemia, disordered eating, diabetes distress, quality of life, family conflict, and self-reported barriers to adherence. Independent t-tests and chi-square tests compared Latinx v. NHW youth on mental/behavioral health (MBH) indices and glycemic control; associations of MBH with glycemic control, and moderation by race, were tested with regressions.

Results: Latinx youth (n=84) with T1D had worse HbA1c (8.5±0.2% v. 7.9±0.1%) and greater depression, disordered eating, diabetes distress, quality of life, and self-reported barriers to diabetes adherence, compared to NHW youth (n=359; ps<.001). A greater proportion of Latinx youth had elevated depression (25% v. 16%) and disordered eating (30% v. 15%) than NHW youth (ps<0.01). In Latinx youth only, anxiety related to worse HbA1c (p=.04). In all youth, most psychological measures were associated with worse HbA1c, except for anxiety and the cognitive subscales related to fear of hypoglycemia (ps<.05).

Conclusion: In addition to poorer glycemic control, Latinx youth with T1D have worse MBH than NHW youth on most psychological constructs ADA recommends assessing. Given the associations between mental health and HbA1c, addressing mental health in Latinx adolescents with T1D may play a critical role in achieving glycemic control targets in this historically vulnerable population.

Disclosure

E. Vargas: None. B. Tanner: None. L.B. Shomaker: None. H.K. O'Donnell: None.

Funding

National Institute of Health and National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (T32 5T32DK063687-20)

© 2024 by the American Diabetes Association
2024
Readers may use this article as long as the work is properly cited, the use is educational and not for profit, and the work is not altered. More information is available at http://www.diabetesjournals.org/content/license.