How Do Virtual Visits Compare? Parent Satisfaction With Pediatric Diabetes Telehealth During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries relaxed restrictions on telemedicine, allowing for a robust transition to virtual visits for routine care. In response, centers rapidly instituted and scaled telemedicine for pediatric diabetes care. Despite numerous center reports on their experience, little is known about parent perspectives on the widespread increase of telemedicine for pediatric diabetes appointments. Objective: To assess parent satisfaction with virtual care for pediatric diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We conducted an online, cross-sectional survey of parents of youth with diabetes who receive care at a large, academic diabetes center regarding their perspectives on newly introduced virtual appointments. Parents were surveyed at two time points during the pandemic using a validated scale which was adapted for diabetes. We explored demographic and clinical factors which may influence parental satisfaction. Results: Overall, parents expressed high levels of satisfaction (>90%) with functional aspects of the visit, though only approximately half (56%) felt the visit was as good as an in-person encounter. Nearly three-quarters (74%) would consider using telemedicine again in the future. Prior use of telemedicine significantly influenced parent satisfaction, suggesting that parent preferences may play a role in continued use of telemedicine in the future. There was no difference in responses across the two timepoints, suggesting high satisfaction early in the pandemic which persisted. Conclusions: If permissive policies for telemedicine continue, diabetes centers could adopt hybrid in-person and virtual care models, while considering various stakeholder perspectives (providers and patients) and equity in access to virtual care.

A centennial review of discoveries and advances in diabetes: Children and youth.

Diabetes is an increasingly common chronic metabolic disorder in children worldwide. The discovery of insulin in 1921 resulted in unprecedented advancements that improved the lives of children and youth with diabetes. The purpose of this article is to review the history of diabetes in children and youth over the last century and its implications for future developments in the field. We identified 68 relevant events between 1921 and 2021 through literature review and survey of pediatric endocrinologists. Basic research milestones led to the discovery of insulin and other regulatory hormones, established the normal physiology of carbohydrate metabolism and pathophysiology of diabetes, and provided insight into strategies for diabetes prevention. While landmark clinical studies were initially focused on adult diabetes populations, later studies assessed etiologic factors in birth cohort studies, evaluated technology use among children with diabetes, and investigated pharmacologic management of youth type 2 diabetes. Technological innovations culminated in the introduction of continuous glucose monitoring that enabled semi-automated insulin delivery systems. Finally, professional organizations collaborated with patient groups to advocate for the needs of children with diabetes and their families. Together, these advances transformed type 1 diabetes from a terminal illness to a manageable disease with near-normal life expectancy and increased our knowledge of type 2 diabetes and other forms of diabetes in the pediatric population. However, disparities in access to insulin, diabetes technology, education, and care support remain and disproportionately impact minority youth and communities with less resources. The overarching goal of diabetes management remains promoting a high quality of life and improving glycemic management without undermining the psychological health of children and youth living with diabetes.

No "Honeymoon" for Youth, in Particular Blacks, Diagnosed with Diabetes during the First Year of the COVID-Pandemic

Racial differences at onset of type 1 diabetes (T1D) in youth during the COVID-pandemic have been documented in the US. Limited data are available in type 2 diabetes (T2D) . No data are available to our knowledge at follow up (FU) . We compared characteristics at onset and 1 year FU in white vs. black children diagnosed with diabetes mellitus (DM) in 2020 at a large pediatric academic center. A total of 276 youth (53% male, 81% white, mean age at onset 10.8±4.5 years, mean HbA1c 12.1±2.7%, 45% with BMI ≥ 85th percentile, 43% presenting in DKA) , were identified via retrospective chart review. 78% were diagnosed with T1D, 21% with T2D and 1% with MODY. Age (10.8±3.9 vs. 10±4.5 years, p=0.5) , prevalence of BMI ≥ 85thile (47 vs. 28%, p=0.12) and mean HbA1c (12.3±2.5 vs. 12.1±2.7, p=0.84) were similar in blacks vs. whites at onset of T1D. In those diagnosed with T2D, blacks compared to whites had a higher mean HbA1c (11.9±2.9 vs. 9.7±2.3%, p=0.04) as well as prevalence of DKA (26 vs. 0% respectively, p=0.02) . Characteristics at 1 year FU by race and type of DM are presented below.

School-Day Routines Positively Impact Time in Range for Children with Type 1 Diabetes

The impact of school day routines on glycemic control in children is unclear. We compared continuous glucose monitor (CGM) metrics for youth with type 1 diabetes during weekday school hours (8AM-3PM) between two 4-week periods before and during the COVID-pandemic, when children had transitioned to virtual school. Youth with >70% CGM wear (n=209) were included;46% male, mean±SD age 10.6±1.5 years, hemoglobin A1c 7.5±0.8%, 64% on insulin pumps. Time in range (TIR, 80-180 mg/dL) was similar during the pandemic (51.6±24.1%) compared to pre-pandemic (50.8±23.3%) . Using random coefficient multilevel linear mixed models, younger age (p=0.025) and pump use (p=0.043) predicted TIR, but not race (p=0.76) , diabetes duration (p=0.07) , body mass index (p=0.54) , or insurance status (p=0.45) . TIR pre- vs. during the pandemic varied significantly by time of day (p<0.001) . With in-person school pre-pandemic, TIR increased over school hours;with virtual school during the pandemic, TIR decreased in the morning and then remained steady (Figure) . Time above range (TAR, >180 mg/dL) had the opposite pattern. These findings suggest that in-person school can contribute to better TIR and lower TAR. Possible explanations include classroom and physical activity routines, plus school nurse support. During virtual school, continued routines are important and interventions to optimize diabetes care in school may benefit glycemic control.

Similar Rate of Positive Depression Screen in Youth with Diabetes Before and During the COVID-Pandemic: Still No Reason for Complacency

Adolescents with diabetes mellitus (DM) experience depression 2-3 times higher than the general population. Little is known about the impact of the COVID pandemic. We aimed to identify the prevalence of depression among youth with DM before and during the pandemic and associated factors in a large academic children's hospital. Patient health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) screens completed in fall 20 and 2020 (n=216 vs. 194 respectively) were reviewed. 187 subjects (81%) completed the screen at both periods (54% female, 97% white, 97% with type 1 DM (T1D) , mean (SD) age 15.1 (2.7) years, duration of DM 7.2 (4.2) years) . Among youth with T1D, 55% used insulin pumps and 64% continuous glucose monitor (CGM) . When comparing 20to 2020, median [IQR] PHQ-9 score (1 [0-3] vs. 0 [0-3], p=0.76) or rates of depression (17 vs. 15%, p=0.65) were not different. In 2011%, 4% and 2% had mild (PHQ-9 score 5-9) , moderate (score 10-14) , and severe (score >14) depression respectively with similar rates in 2020 at 10%, 2% and 3% There was no difference in mean HbA1c between 20 and 2020 (8.2±1.7 vs. 8.2± 1.8% respectively, p=0.99) . Using 20data, PHQ-9 score was significantly positively correlated with HbA1c (rho=0.22, p=0.003) and BMI z-score (rho=0.22, p=0.003) , but not to age (rho-0.02, p=0.73) , or duration of diabetes (rho=0.04, p=0.55) . Depression was more prevalent in females (21% vs. 12%, p=0.09) and in youth with no CGM use (24 vs. 12%, p=0.047) . Suicidal ideation was reported in 4 (2%) of youth in 20 and 3 (1.5%) in 2020. Our results suggest that the prevalence/severity of depression during the first year of the pandemic did not change in youth with DM compared to the previous year, the reason perhaps being that ∼ 90% of patients in our institution continued to being followed up, albeit virtually, during the pandemic. Still, almost 1/5 of adolescents with DM scored positive for depression highlighting the need to support the behavioral needs of youth with T1D.

Implications of the School Day on Health Behaviors for Children With Type 1 Diabetes: A Survey of Parent Perspectives During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to survey parents of youth with type 1 diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic with school closures to better understand the implications of the school day on health care behaviors. METHODS: A cross-sectional, online survey was distributed to parents of youth with type 1 diabetes ≤19 years of age in a large, academic diabetes center. Questions encompassed perceived changes in management behaviors and plans for return to school. Subgroup analysis compared parent responses by child's age, reported stressors, and socioeconomic markers. RESULTS: Parents reported a worsening in their child's diabetes health behaviors during school closures compared to what they perceived during a regular school day before the pandemic. More than half of parents reported feeling that their child was unable to maintain a normal routine, with particular implications for snacking between meals, daily physical activity, and sleep habits. Families with adolescents or those experiencing multiple pandemic-related stressors reported greater challenges. In open-ended responses, families highlighted difficulty in balancing school, work, and diabetes care and expressed concerns about the mental health repercussions of school closures for their children. Nearly half of parents reported being at least moderately worried about return to school, whereas only a minority reported seeking guidance from their diabetes provider. CONCLUSIONS: Parent-reported disruptions of school-day routines frequently had adverse consequences for diabetes management in this population. These findings highlight the importance of a school-day routine for children with type 1 diabetes; during closures, families may benefit from mitigating strategies to maintain effective habits.

Time-in-Range (TIR) Is Suboptimal for Youth with Type 1 Diabetes during School

Youth with type 1 diabetes spend half their waking weekday hours at school, yet little is known about glycemic control in school. Continuous glucose monitor (CGM) metrics for youth age 7-12 during school hours (8AM-3PM) were compared between weekdays and weekends for 14 days pre COVID-19. Youth with >70% CGM wear (n=214) were identified from a large academic center: 96% white, 46% male, mean (SD) age 10.6 (1.5) years, duration 3.5 (2.5) years, HbA1c 7.5 (0.8) %, 63% with an insulin pump. For weekday school hours, median TIR (70-180 mg/dL) was 52.4%;only 34 (15%) of youth met a TIR goal of >70%. Using random coefficient multilevel linear mixed models, TIR in school was significantly associated with younger age (p=0.008), shorter duration (p<0.001), and lower HbA1c (p<0.001), but not pump use (p=0.42). Weekday and weekend CGM metrics were clinically similar (Table), though TIR was statistically higher (p<0.001) and time high/very high (>180 mg/dL) lower on weekends (p<0.01). Time exhibited a significant fixed and random effect in mixed models;youth with lower TIR at 8AM tended to have larger improvements over subsequent hours. Notably, TIR early in the school day was nearly half of TIR during similar weekend hours, perhaps relating to sleep/meal schedules. Our data support that TIR in school is sub-optimal but may improve while in school, suggesting a benefit to school day routines and opportunity for improving glycemic control in school.