Adolescents with type 1 diabetes and the paediatrics diabetes clinic
Aim
This report aims to characterise the adolescent population with T1D attending University Hospital Limerick (UHL) paediatric diabetes services and carry out subgroup analysis of high-risk patients. High-risk are those with HbA1c≥75mmol/mol(9%) and factors impacting disease management including psychosocial issues/other chronic diseases.
Methods
Data was collected using Microsoft Excel, from adolescents attending UHL paediatric diabetes clinic and age≥ 14 years between January 1st-June 30th 2022, and analysed using Excel, Minitab and OpenStax.
Results
74 adolescents, equal males and females, of whom 20 were high-risk, were included. High-risk individuals were less likely to use insulin pumps or continuous glucose monitoring devices, and more likely to have lipohypertrophy than non-high-risk peers. Of those high-risk, 6 had at least one consultation with a medical social worker (MSW) (1 of these had another chronic disease and saw MSW dedicated to this disease-team) and 14 had at least one consultation with a paediatric clinical psychologist. There is a clear deficit of MSW and paediatric psychology input in the management of these adolescents.
Conclusion
Active screening for diabetic control risk factors as well as appropriate funding to support team-specific MSW and psychology input for high-risk patients is urgently required to meet current best practice guidelines.
History
Publication
Irish Medical Journal, 2023, 116 (10), pp. 871-Publisher
Irish Medical OrganizationSustainable development goals
- (3) Good Health and Well-being
External identifier
Department or School
- School of Medicine