OBJECTIVETo test models of unidirectional and bidirectional change between treatment adherence and glycemic control in youth with type 1 diabetes.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSWe conducted a 2-year longitudinal, multisite study of 225 youth with type 1 diabetes recruited at the cusp of adolescence (aged 9–11 years) to describe the mutual influences of glycemic control as measured by HbA1c and treatment adherence as measured by blood glucose monitoring frequency (BGMF) during the transition to adolescence.RESULTSHbA1c increased from 8.2 to 8.6% (P < 0.001) and BGMF decreased from 4.9 to 4.5 checks per day (P < 0.02) during the 2-year period. Changes in the BGMF slope predicted changes in HbA1c. A change (increase) in HbA1c was associated with a change (decrease) in BGMF of 1.26 (P < 0.001) after controlling for covariates.CONCLUSIONSThe magnitude of the effect of declining treatment adherence (BGMF) on glycemic control in young adolescents may be even greater than declines observed among older adolescents. BGMF offers a powerful tool for targeted management of glycemic control for type 1 diabetes during the critical transition to adolescence.

There is a developmental shift in perceptions of peer support. Increased perceptions of peer and family support overall may not result in improved metabolic control. Social support interventions should focus on the types of support that are most highly associated with positive health outcomes.

Peer group intervention approaches may result in increased positive peer involvement in adolescents' diabetes care.

Objective To identify trajectories of glycemic control over a period of three years in a pediatric sample of youth diagnosed with type 1 diabetes transitioning to adolescence. A second aim was to examine a set of modifiable individual and family-level baseline predictors of glycemic control group membership. Methods This multisite, prospective study included 239 children and adolescents (ages 9–11 years at baseline) diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and their caregivers. Glycemic control was based on hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) collected at six month intervals over a period of three years. Predictors of glycemic control membership included baseline global executive functioning, diabetes self-management, diabetes-specific family conflict, blood glucose monitoring frequency, and relevant individual and family level covariates. Results Group-based trajectory analyses were used to describe patterns of glycemic control from baseline to 36 months and three trajectories were identified: low risk (42.9%), elevated risk (44.6%), and high risk (12.1%) subgroups. Baseline maternal-reported family conflict, blood glucose monitoring frequency, and gender were significant predictors of glycemic control group membership. Higher levels of baseline family conflict, lower frequency of blood glucose monitoring, and female gender were associated with elevated and high risk group membership. Conclusions These findings underscore the importance of examining trajectories of HbA1c across time. These results suggest that problematic trajectories of glycemic control are evident during the transition to adolescence. Furthermore, there are modifiable individual and family-level characteristics that predict group membership and hence could be targeted in interventions to ensure adequate glycemic control is maintained over time and that risks for diabetes-related complications are reduced.

A tremendous amount of data suggest that near-normal glycemic control prevents or delays complications of diabetes, which has led to a dramatic increase in continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) or insulin pump use. In this article, the data supporting CSII in type 1 diabetes is reviewed, and the advantages and disadvantages of CSII are analyzed. In addition, CSII use in specific situations is examined, including during childhood and pregnancy and while exercising. The published articles suggest that CSII provides better glycemic control than does conventional therapy and comparable to or slightly better control than multiple daily injections. The use of CSII may be especially indicated during pregnancy or for preconception care and for diabetes presenting in childhood or adolescence.