1375-P: Acquisition of Self-Care in Youth with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) Varies by Age and Task

REBECCA O. LA BANCA, LISA K. VOLKENING, LORI M. LAFFEL. 1375-P: Acquisition of Self-Care in Youth with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) Varies by Age and Task. Diabetes Jun 2019, 68 (Supplement 1) 1375-P; DOI: 10.2337/db19-1375-P .

Aim
In childhood, there is gradual transition of T1D tasks from parents to youth. To assess acquisition of self-care by age, we examined parent report of responsibility across task domains in youth ages 5-18 years.

Methods
Parents of youth with T1D completed the Diabetes Family Responsibility Questionnaire using 3 response options (mainly parent, shared, mainly youth) across 5 T1D domains: Nutrition, Monitoring, Insulin, Communication, and Health Surveillance. Analyses included 3 age groups: 5-10 (Elementary School [ES]), 11-14 (Early Adolescence [EA]), and 15-18 (Late Adolescence [LA]).

Results
Youth (N=148, 50% male) were 12.9±3.2 [X±SD] years, with T1D duration 6.2±3.6 years; 60% pump treated, BG checks 5.6±2.9 X/day, A1c 8.4±1.3%. Parents were 84% mothers, 92% white, 83% married, and 63% college educated. Parent report of youth self-care varied by age and task (Figure). Youth self-care increased as age and T1D duration increased (p<.001). Self-care in Nutrition began in ES, followed by Monitoring and Insulin in EA, and Communication in LA. Health Surveillance (e.g., sick day care) remained mainly under parent care for majority in ES, EA, and LA. In all youth, more parent involvement was related to lower A1c (p<.03).

Conclusion
Recognizing and supporting youth during acquisition of self-care, especially for Nutrition, BG Monitoring, and Insulin, may help to prevent glycemic deterioration later in childhood/adolescence.

Disponível Em: <https://diabetes.diabetesjournals.org/>