Background: DD distracts from T1D self-management, contributing to suboptimal glycemia. Yet, DD can change day-to-day and over time. We compared A1c trends in teens with increasing vs. decreasing DD over time.
Methods: At baseline, 6, 12, and 18 months, participants (N=301) ages 13-17 years completed the Problem Areas in Diabetes Survey—Pediatric scale; higher scores indicate more DD with ≥41 indicating elevated DD. We identified three trajectories: participants with low baseline DD, who then reported persistent high DD; participants with high baseline DD, who then had persistent low DD levels; all others. Mean A1c levels were compared at baseline and 18 months.
Results: At baseline, participants (49% male, 78% white) were 15.0±1.3 years old with T1D duration 6.5±3.7 years; 59% used insulin pumps; 12% used CGM; A1c was 8.5±1.1%. Twenty-six participants (9%) had elevated DD at baseline and then low DD at subsequent time points; A1c did not change significantly from 0 to 18 months for these participants (p=.33). Thirty-five participants (12%) had low DD at baseline and then elevated DD at subsequent time points; A1c increased significantly from 0 to 18 months for these participants (p=.01). The remaining participants (n=240) had varying levels of DD with no significant change in A1C (p=.05).
Conclusion: Adolescents who initially had low DD and reported increasing DD over time may be at risk for worsening glycemic outcomes.
K.Wentzell: None. L.J.Tinsley: None. L.K.Volkening: None. D.E.Mcgill: Employee; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. B.J.Anderson-thomas: None. L.M.Laffel: Advisory Panel; Medtronic, Lilly Diabetes, Novo Nordisk, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, Roche Diagnostics, Provention Bio, Inc., Consultant; Dexcom, Inc., Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Medscape.
National Institutes of Health (T32DK007260); National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (R01DK095273); JDRF (2-SRA-2014-253-M-B)
