Introduction & Objective: ADA and ISPAD recommend comprehensive nutrition education by a registered dietitian (RD) at least annually following T1D diagnosis. Study objectives were to describe longitudinal trends in annual RD follow-up in children with T1D and to identify patient characteristics associated with RD engagement.
Methods: Retrospective chart review was performed over a 5-year period (2018-2022) on patients aged <18 years with T1D for ≥1 year followed at a tertiary pediatric center. Mixed effects logistic and linear regression models were conducted to assess for trends in rates of RD visit completion in the year preceding the last MD/DNE encounter and to identify sociodemographic, disease-related, and clinical patient characteristics associated with RD follow-up.
Results: Data based on 6053 completed MD/DNE visits among 1995 patients was analyzed. Annual RD follow-up rate over a 5-year period was 21%, with no differences between the years (P=0.117). Younger age, historically marginalized background, and shorter T1D duration predicted higher likelihood of RD follow-up, and RD follow-up was associated with lower hemoglobin A1c within the subsequent year (Table).
Conclusion: Annual RD visit frequency among T1D patients is suboptimal, potentially limiting opportunities for better glycemic control. Study findings provide important insights for targeted intervention to improve RD follow-up rates.
S. Azova: None. B.S. Lennerz: None. C. Petty: None. H. Michelson: None. A. Schmidt: None. E.N. Gordon: None. K. Garvey: Advisory Panel; Sanofi. E. Rhodes: None.
National Institutes of Health (K12DK133995)
