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Adolescents with type 1 diabetes and the paediatrics diabetes clinic

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posted on 2024-02-09, 14:06 authored by L. A. Dockery, A. McCaffrey, M. Connolly, O. M. Neylon, Clodagh O'GormanClodagh O'Gorman

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 Organization

Sustainable development goals

  • (3) Good Health and Well-being

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Department or School

  • School of Medicine

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