Aim: EF (ability to initiate, plan, monitor behavior) impacts self-care and glycemic control in teens with T1D. We examined demographics, insulin therapy, A1c, and EF in 3 international cohorts of teens with T1D.
Methods: Parents of 337 teens (13-18) with T1D from Belgium (BE), Netherlands (NL), and U.S. completed the BRIEF to assess teen EF. Parents/medical records provided demographic and diabetes data. BRIEF score ≥60 (composite score or either of 2 main indices) defined EF problems. Logistic regression determined associations of EF problems with A1c (<7.5 vs. ≥7.5%), controlling for country, sex, T1D duration, and pump use.
Results: Teens (54% male; 27% BE, 24% NL, 49% U.S.) were 15.0±1.5 yrs old with T1D duration 7.4±4.0 years, A1c 8.1±1.2%, 61% pump. Teens from BE, NL, U.S. differed with respect to A1c (7.4±1.0, 8.1±1.3, 8.5±1.2%) and pump use (27%, 72%, 74%) (all p<.01). Overall, 30% had EF problems (26% BE, 32% NL, 32% U.S.). Generally, teens with EF problems had higher A1c vs. those without (Table). Pump use was less common in teens with EF problems in NL and U.S. and more common in BE. Odds of A1c ≥7.5% was 2.0 (95% CI 1.1, 3.6; p=.03) in teens with EF problems.
Conclusion: In an international sample, teens with T1D and EF problems were twice as likely to have suboptimal A1c. Given country differences in pump use in teens with EF problems, future studies can assess potential benefit of technology in at-risk teens.
E.R. Goethals: None. M. de Wit: None. L.K. Volkening: None. K. Luyckx: None. K. Casteels: None. L.M. Laffel: Advisory Panel; Self; Roche Diabetes Care. Consultant; Self; Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., ConvaTec Inc., Dexcom, Inc., Insulet Corporation, Insulogic LLC, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Lilly Diabetes, Novo Nordisk Inc., Sanofi US.
Iacocca Family Foundation; National Institutes of Health (P30DK036836, R01DK095273, K12DK094721); JDRF (2-SRA-2014-253-M-B)