Bidirectional Associations Between Mental Health Disorders and Chronic Diabetic Complications in Individuals With Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: To determine bidirectional associations between the timing of chronic diabetes complications (CDCs) and mental health disorders (MHDs) in individuals with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We used a nationally representative health care claims database to identify matched individuals with type 1 or 2 diabetes or without diabetes using a propensity score quasirandomization technique stratified by age (0-19, 20-39, 40-59, and 60+ years). CDCs and MHDs were identified using ICD-9/10 codes. We fit Cox proportional hazards models with time-varying diagnoses of CDCs or MHDs to investigate their association with the hazard of developing MHDs or CDCs, respectively. RESULTS: From 2001 to 2018, a total of 553,552 individuals were included (44,735 with type 1 diabetes, 152,187 with type 2 diabetes, and 356,630 without diabetes). We found that having a CDC increased the hazard of developing an MHD (hazard ratio [HR] 1.9-2.9; P < 0.05, with higher HRs in older age strata), and having an MHD increased the hazard of developing a CDC (HR 1.4-2.5; P < 0.05, with the highest HR in age stratum 0-19 years). In those age <60 years, individuals with type 1 diabetes were more likely to have CDCs, whereas individuals with type 2 diabetes were more likely to have MHDs. However, the relationship between CDCs and MHDs in either direction was not affected by diabetes type (P > 0.05 for interaction effects). CONCLUSIONS: We found a consistent bidirectional association between CDCs and MHDs across the life span, highlighting the important relationship between CDCs and MHDs. Prevention and treatment of either comorbidity may help reduce the risk of developing the other.

Screening for diabetes distress and depression in routine clinical care for youth with type 1 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to examine diabetes distress as a potential mediator of the relationship between depression symptoms and diabetes outcomes, including hemoglobin A1c (hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c]) and diabetes management behaviors in a clinical sample of adolescents and young adults. METHODS: In a pediatric diabetes clinic, 716 youth (ages 12-21 years) completed measures of diabetes distress (Problem Areas in Diabetes-Teen [PAID-T]), a single-item of diabetes distress, and depression (Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9]) as part of standard care. Electronic health records were extracted for the "Six Habits" and glycemic management (HbA1c). RESULTS: Overall, 3.6% (n = 26) of adolescents had clinically elevated diabetes distress and depression symptoms, 5.0% had diabetes distress alone, 8.7% had depression symptoms alone, and 82.7% had neither clinical elevation of diabetes distress nor depression symptoms. Results of mediation analysis demonstrated diabetes distress (both full and single-item measures) fully mediated the relationship between depression symptoms and HbA1c (p < .001). Also, mediation analysis results showcase incomplete mediation of the effect of the Six Habits score on HbA1c appears by PAID-T Diabetes Distress. CONCLUSIONS: In a clinical sample of youth with type 1 diabetes, both depressive symptoms and diabetes distress are associated with HbA1c. Furthermore, diabetes distress fully mediates the relationship between depressive symptoms and HbA1c. As part of standard clinical care, the single-item screener for diabetes distress captured similar results as the full-scaled PAID-T. With limited clinical resources, providers may consider focusing assessment and interventions on the psychological factor of diabetes distress within the diabetes clinic to maximize the impact on glycemic control and consider the use of single-item screening to identify distress.

Association Between Psychosocial Acuity and Glycemic Control in a Pediatric Type 1 Diabetes Clinic.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe the frequency of psychosocial risk and its associations with glycemic levels in youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D) seen by social work staff during regular clinical care. METHODS: A retrospective longitudinal analysis of observational clinical data was conducted. Individuals (1-26 years) with known T1D who were seen at a pediatric diabetes clinic in a US academic medical center between 2014 and 2021 were included. Variables included psychosocial acuity, A1C, and demographic characteristics. Chi-square tests, Wilcoxon rank sum tests, and mixed linear regressions were used to examine associations between demographic variables, psychosocial acuity, and A1C. RESULTS: Of 966 patients, 513 (53.1%) were male, 76 (7.9%) were non-Hispanic Black, and 804 (83.2%) were non-Hispanic White. There was a mean of 6.9 annual social work encounters per patient, with 3 psychosocial domains measured at each visit. Results showed that as psychosocial acuity level increased, glycemic control decreased. There were significant differences in A1C according to race/ethnicity, insurance, age, and psychosocial acuity. CONCLUSIONS: In a real-world clinical population, psychosocial acuity was associated with glycemic control. Presenting for psychosocial issues in their diabetes clinic was associated with reduced glycemic control among youth with T1D. There is an opportunity to connect pediatric patients with appropriate mental health services and psychosocial supports.

Cost and utilization of healthcare services for persons with diabetes.

AIMS: Describe and compare healthcare costs and utilization for insured persons with type 1 diabetes (T1D), type 2 diabetes (T2D), and without diabetes in the United States. METHODS: Using a nationally representative healthcare claims database, we identified matched persons with T1D, T2D, and without diabetes using a propensity score quasi-randomization technique. In each year between 2009 and 2018, we report costs (total and out-of-pocket) and utilization for all healthcare services and those specific to medications, diabetes-related supplies, visits to providers, hospitalizations, and emergency department visits. RESULTS: In 2018, we found out-of-pocket costs and total costs were highest for persons with T1D (out-of-pocket: $2,037.2, total: $25,652.0), followed by T2D (out-of-pocket: $1,543.3, total: $22,408.1), and without diabetes (out-of-pocket: $1,122.7, total: $14,220.6). From 2009 to 2018, out-of-pocket costs were increasing for persons with T1D(+6.5 %) but decreasing for T2D (-7.5 %) and without diabetes (-2.3 %). Medication costs made up the largest proportion of out-of-pocket costs regardless of diabetes status (T1D: 51.4 %, T2D: 55.4 %,without diabetes: 51.1 %). CONCLUSIONS: Given the substantial out-of-pocket costs for people with diabetes, especially for those with T1D, providers should screen all persons with diabetes for financial toxicity (i.e., wide-ranging problems stemming from healthcare costs). In addition, policies that aim to lower out-of-pocket costs of cost-effective diabetes related healthcare are needed with a particular focus on medications.

Self-Regulation as a Protective Factor for Diabetes Distress and Adherence in Youth with Type 1 Diabetes During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic increased economic, social, and health stressors for families, yet its impacts on families of youth with chronic conditions, such as type 1 diabetes (T1D), are not well understood. Self-regulation (SR)-or the capacities to control emotions, cognition, and behavior in response to challenge-is known to support T1D management and coping in the face of stress. Strong SR may have protected youth with T1D from the impacts of pandemic-related stressors. This study compared youth and parent emotional functioning and T1D management before and after the pandemic's onset in relation to family pandemic-related stress and youth SR. METHODS: Parents of youth with T1D (N = 88) and a subset of these youth (N = 43; Mean age 15.3 years [SD 2.2]) completed surveys regarding SR, stress, emotional functioning, and T1D-related functioning prior to and after March 2020. Outcomes were compared using mixed effects models adjusting for covariates. Family pandemic-related stress experiences and youth SR were tested as moderators of change. RESULTS: Parents' responsibility for T1D management increased across pandemic onset and their diabetes-related distress decreased. Family pandemic-related stress was associated with decreased emotional functioning over time. Youth SR, particularly emotional and behavioral aspects, predicted better emotional and T1D-related functioning. DISCUSSION: While youth with T1D whose families experienced higher pandemic-related stress had poorer adjustment, strong emotional and behavioral SR appeared to protect against worsening youth mood and adherence across pandemic onset. Both social-contextual and individual factors are important to consider when working with families managing T1D.

Neuropsychological Outcomes in Individuals With Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of neuropsychological outcomes in individuals with type 1 diabetes compared to individuals with type 2 diabetes or without diabetes, and to evaluate the association of diabetes status and microvascular/macrovascular complications with neuropsychological outcomes. Patients and Methods: We used a nationally representative healthcare claims database of privately insured individuals (1/1/2001-12/31/2018) to identify individuals with type 1 diabetes. Propensity score matching was used as a quasi-randomization technique to match type 1 diabetes individuals to type 2 diabetes individuals and controls. Diabetes status, microvascular/macrovascular complications (retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy, stroke, myocardial infarction, peripheral vascular disease, amputations), and neuropsychological outcomes (mental health, cognitive, chronic pain, addiction, sleep disorders) were defined using ICD-9/10 codes. Logistic regression determined associations between diabetes status, microvascular/macrovascular complications, and neuropsychological outcomes. Results: We identified 184,765 type 1 diabetes individuals matched to 524,602 type 2 diabetes individuals and 522,768 controls. With the exception of cognitive disorders, type 2 diabetes individuals had the highest prevalence of neuropsychological outcomes, followed by type 1 diabetes, and controls. After adjusting for the presence of microvascular/macrovascular complications, type 1 diabetes was not significantly associated with a higher risk of neuropsychological outcomes; however, type 2 diabetes remained associated with mental health, cognitive, and sleep disorders. The presence of microvascular/macrovascular complications was independently associated with each neuropsychological outcome regardless of diabetes status. Conclusion: Microvascular/macrovascular complications are associated with a high risk of neuropsychological outcomes regardless of diabetes status. Therefore, preventing microvascular and macrovascular complications will likely help reduce the likelihood of neuropsychological outcomes either as the result of similar pathophysiologic processes or by preventing the direct and indirect consequences of these complications. For individuals with type 2 diabetes, risk factors beyond complications (such as obesity) likely contribute to neuropsychological outcomes.

The Role of Parent Self-Regulation in Youth Type 1 Diabetes Management.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Youth with strong self-regulation (SR), or the ability to manage thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, engage in more effective type 1 diabetes (T1D) management. However, while parent support and engagement are critical to ensuring positive youth T1D outcomes, it is rarely considered that parents' SR may also influence youth T1D management. If this is the case, novel interventions to improve parents' SR or ensure adequate support for parents with SR challenges offer great potential to improve family functioning and youth T1D management. RECENT FINDINGS: Theoretical and preliminary empirical evidence suggests that parental SR impacts family processes that support youth T1D treatment regimen adherence. Furthermore, parent and youth SR likely interact, with high parent SR enhancing the positive effects of high youth SR or compensating for low youth SR. Continued research is needed to better understand the ways in which parent SR matters to youth T1D management and identify how to support improvements in T1D management among families of parents with low SR.

Adolescent Interventions to Manage Self-Regulation in Type 1 Diabetes (AIMS-T1D): randomized control trial study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Self-regulation (SR), or the capacity to control one's thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in order to achieve a desired goal, shapes health outcomes through many pathways, including supporting adherence to medical treatment regimens. Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is one specific condition that requires SR to ensure adherence to daily treatment regimens that can be arduous and effortful (e.g., monitoring blood glucose). Adolescents, in particular, have poor adherence to T1D treatment regimens, yet it is essential that they assume increased responsibility for managing their T1D as they approach young adulthood. Adolescence is also a time of rapid changes in SR capacity and thus a compelling period for intervention. Promoting SR among adolescents with T1D may thus be a novel method to improve treatment regimen adherence. The current study tests a behavioral intervention to enhance SR among adolescents with T1D. SR and T1D medical regimen adherence will be examined as primary and secondary outcomes, respectively. METHODS: We will use a randomized control trial design to test the impact of a behavioral intervention on three SR targets: Executive Functioning (EF), Emotion Regulation (ER), and Future Orientation (FO); and T1D medical regimen adherence. Adolescents with T1D (n = 94) will be recruited from pediatric endocrinology clinics and randomly assigned to treatment or control group. The behavioral intervention consists of working memory training (to enhance EF), biofeedback and relaxation training (to enhance ER), and episodic future thinking training (to enhance FO) across an 8-week period. SR and treatment regimen adherence will be assessed at pre- and post-test using multiple methods (behavioral tasks, diabetes device downloads, self- and parent-report). We will use an intent-to-treat framework using generalized linear mixed models to test our hypotheses that: 1) the treatment group will demonstrate greater improvements in SR than the control group, and 2) the treatment group will demonstrate better treatment regimen adherence outcomes than the control group. DISCUSSION: If successful, SR-focused behavioral interventions could improve health outcomes among adolescents with T1D and have transdiagnostic implications across multiple chronic conditions requiring treatment regimen adherence. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03688919; registered September 28, 2018.

Dog Training Intervention Shows Social-Cognitive Change in the Journals of Incarcerated Youth.

There is limited research assessing the effectiveness of Animal-Assisted Therapy in at-risk adolescent populations. In a recent study, 138 adjudicated adolescents participated in a randomized controlled trial of an animal-assisted intervention, in which participants either trained shelter dogs (Teacher's Pet group) or walked the dogs (control group), with both groups participating in classroom work related to dogs (1). Journal writing was a part of class activities for all youth in the study. Conventional assessments of youth behavior made by staff or youth themselves did not demonstrate the expected differences between the groups favoring the dog training group, as youth in both groups showed a significant increase in staff and youth rated internalizing behavior problems and empathy from the beginning to the end of the project (1). However, subsequent analysis of the journal content from 73 of the adjudicated youth reported here, did reveal significant differences between treatment and control groups, favoring the Teacher's Pet group. Youth participating in the dog training intervention showed through their journal writing greater social-cognitive growth, more attachment, and more positive attitudes toward the animal-assisted intervention compared to youth in the control group. The 73 youth whose journals were available were very similar to youth in the larger group. Their results illustrate that journaling can be a useful method of assessing effects of similar animal-assisted interventions for at-risk youth. Writing done by youth receiving therapy appeared to promote self-reflection, desirable cognitive change, and prosocial attitudes that may signify improving quality of life for such youth. The expressive writing of participants could reveal important effects of treatment beyond the behavioral changes that are often the targeted outcomes of animal-assisted interventions.