Household food insecurity and associations with hemoglobin A1c and acute diabetes-related complications in youth and young adults with type 1 diabetes: The SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth study.

AIMS: To examine, among youth and young adults (YYA) with type 1 diabetes (T1D), the association of household food insecurity (HFI) with: 1) HbA1c and 2) episodes of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and severe hypoglycemia. METHODS: HFI was assessed using the U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module in SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth participants with T1D between 2016 and 2019. Linear and logistic regression models adjusted for age, diabetes duration, sex, race, ethnicity, clinic site, parent/participant education, household income, health insurance, and diabetes technology use. RESULTS: Of 1830 participants (mean age 20.8 ± 5.0 years, 70.0 % non-Hispanic White), HbA1c was collected for 1060 individuals (mean HbA1c 9.2 % ± 2.0 %). The prevalence of HFI was 16.4 %. In the past 12 months, 18.2 % and 9.9 % reported an episode of DKA or severe hypoglycemia, respectively. Compared to participants who were food secure, HFI was associated with a 0.33 % (95 % CI 0.003, 0.657) higher HbA1c level. Those with HFI had 1.58 (95 % CI 1.13, 2.21) times the adjusted odds of an episode of DKA and 1.53 (95 % CI 0.99, 2.37) times the adjusted odds of an episode of severe hypoglycemia as those without HFI. CONCLUSIONS: HFI is associated with higher HbA1c levels and increased odds of DKA in YYA with T1D.

Household Food Insecurity Is Associated With Physical Activity in Youth and Young Adults With Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity (PA) is essential for optimal diabetes management. Household food insecurity (HFI) may negatively affect diabetes management behaviors. The purpose of this study was to cross-sectionally examine the association between HFI and PA in youth and young adults (YYA) with type 1 (N = 1998) and type 2 (N = 391) diabetes from the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study. METHODS: HFI was measured with the US Household Food Security Survey Module. PA was measured with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form. Walking, moderate-intensity PA (excluding walking), vigorous-intensity PA, moderate- to vigorous-intensity PA, and total PA were estimated as minutes per week, while time spent sitting was assessed in minutes per day. All were modeled with median regression. Meeting PA guidelines or not was modeled using logistic regression. RESULTS: YYA with type 1 diabetes who experienced HFI spent more time walking than those who were food secure. YYA with type 2 diabetes who experienced HFI spent more time sitting than those who were food secure. CONCLUSIONS: Future research should examine walking for leisure versus other domains of walking in relation to HFI and use objective PA measures to corroborate associations between HFI and PA in YYA with diabetes.

Food Insecurity and Adequacy of Dietary Intake in Youth and Young Adults With Youth-Onset Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Household food insecurity is associated with poor dietary intake in the general population, but little is known about this association in persons with diabetes. OBJECTIVE: We examined the degree of adherence to the dietary reference intakes and 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans overall and according to food security status and diabetes type among youth and young adults (YYA) with youth-onset diabetes. DESIGN, PARTICIPANTS, AND SETTING: The SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth study includes 1,197 YYA with type 1 diabetes (mean age = 21 ± 5 years) and 319 YYA with type 2 diabetes (25 ± 4 years). Participants (or parents if younger than age 18 years) completed the US Department of Agriculture Household Food Security Survey Module, wherein ≥3 affirmations indicate food insecurity. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Diet was assessed via food frequency questionnaire and compared with age- and sex-specific dietary reference intakes for 10 nutrients and dietary components (calcium; fiber; magnesium; potassium; sodium; vitamins C, D, and E; added sugar; and saturated fat). STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: Median regression models controlled for sex- and type-specific means for age, diabetes duration, and daily energy intake. RESULTS: Prevalence of guideline adherence was overarchingly poor, with <40% of participants meeting recommendations for eight of 10 nutrients and dietary components; however, higher adherence (>47%) was observed for vitamin C and added sugars. YYA with type 1 diabetes who were food insecure were more likely to meet recommendations for calcium, magnesium, and vitamin E (P < 0.05), and less likely for sodium (P < 0.05) than those with food security. In adjusted models, YYA with type 1 diabetes who were food secure had closer median adherence to sodium (P = 0.002) and fiber (P = 0.042) guidelines than those food insecure. No associations were observed in YYA with type 2 diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: Food insecurity is associated with lesser adherence to fiber and sodium guidelines in YYA with type 1 diabetes, which may lead to diabetes complications and other chronic diseases.

Household Food Insecurity and Fear of Hypoglycemia in Adolescents and Young Adults With Diabetes and Parents of Youth With Diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relation between household food insecurity (HFI) and fear of hypoglycemia among young adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes and adolescents with type 1 diabetes and their parents. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We analyzed cross-sectional data of 1,676 young adults with youth-onset diabetes (84% type 1, 16% type 2) and 568 adolescents (<18 years old; mean age 15.1 years) with type 1 diabetes from the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth study. Adult participants and parents of adolescent participants completed the U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module. Adults, adolescents, and parents of adolescents completed the Hypoglycemia Fear Survey, where answers range from 1 to 4. The outcomes were mean score for fear of hypoglycemia and the behavior and worry subscale scores. Linear regression models identified associations between HFI and fear of hypoglycemia scores. RESULTS: Adults with type 1 diabetes experiencing HFI had higher fear of hypoglycemia scores (0.22 units higher for behavior, 0.55 units for worry, 0.40 units for total; all P < 0.0001) than those without HFI. No differences by HFI status were found for adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Parents of adolescents reporting HFI had a 0.18 unit higher worry score than those not reporting HFI (P < 0.05). Adults with type 2 diabetes experiencing HFI had higher fear of hypoglycemia scores (0.19 units higher for behavior, 0.35 units for worry, 0.28 units for total; all P < 0.05) than those in food secure households. CONCLUSIONS: Screening for HFI and fear of hypoglycemia among people with diabetes can help providers tailor diabetes education for those who have HFI and therefore fear hypoglycemia.

Household food insecurity is associated with diabetic ketoacidosis but not severe hypoglycemia or glycemic control in youth and young adults with youth-onset type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between household food insecurity (HFI), glycemic control, severe hypoglycemia and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) among youth and young adults (YYA) with youth-onset type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 395 YYA with type 2 diabetes from the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study (2015-2019). HFI was reported by young adult participants or parents of minor participants via the US Household Food Security Survey Module. Glycemic control was assessed by HbA1c and analyzed as a continuous and categorical variable (optimal: <7.0%, suboptimal: ≥7.0%-9.0%, poor: >9.0%). Acute complications included self-reported severe hypoglycemia or DKA in the last 12 months. Adjusted logistic and linear regression were used for binary and continuous outcomes, respectively. RESULTS: Approximately 31% reported HFI in the past 12 months. Mean HbA1c among those with HFI was 9.2% compared to 9.5% without HFI. Of those with HFI, 56% had an HbA1c >9.0% compared to 55% without HFI. Adjusted models showed no associations between HFI and glycemic control. Of those with HFI, 14.4% reported experiencing DKA and 4.7% reported severe hypoglycemia. YYA with HFI had 3.08 times (95% CI: 1.18-8.06) the odds of experiencing DKA as those without HFI. There was no association between HFI and severe hypoglycemia. CONCLUSIONS: HFI was associated with markedly increased odds of DKA but not with glycemic control or severe hypoglycemia. Future research among YYA with type 2 diabetes should evaluate longitudinally whether alleviating HFI reduces DKA.

Effect of ActiGraph's low frequency extension for estimating steps and physical activity intensity.

This study examined the effects of the ActiGraph's (AG) low-frequency extension (LFE) filter on steps and physical activity classification in the free-living environment. Thirty-four African-American women (age, 24.5±5.2 years; BMI, 24.9±4.5 kg/m2) had daily activity measured simultaneously with an AG-GT3X+ accelerometer and a New Lifestyles NL-800 pedometer for seven days. Steps per day (steps/day) and time (minutes/day) spent in sedentary, light, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) were examined with and without the LFE filter (AG-LFE and AG-N, respectively). The AG-LFE recorded more total steps (13,723±4,983 steps/day) compared to AG-N and NL-800 (6,172±2,838 and 5,817±3,037 steps/day, respectively; p<0.001). Compared to the AG-N, the AG-LFE estimated less time in sedentary behaviors (518.7±92.1 vs. 504.2±105.4 min/day, respectively; p<0.001), and more time in light (247.7±70.4 vs. 279.1±74.7 min/day, respectively; p<0.001) and MVPA (18.9±16.9 vs. 21.5±18.2 min/day, respectively; p<0.001), respectively. These data suggest that steps and physical activity classifications will be affected when using the ActiGraph with and without the LFE filter. Future research should investigate the accuracy of these measures using the LFE filter.

The Modifying Effects of Race/Ethnicity and Socioeconomic Status on the Change in Physical Activity From Elementary to Middle School.

PURPOSE: Youth physical activity (PA) levels differ by race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status (SES). It is well established that various multilevel factors may influence changes in PA. The present study examined whether the association between the change in individual, interpersonal, and environmental factors and the change in PA is modified by race/ethnicity or SES. METHODS: This study followed 643 youths and their parents from suburban and rural South Carolina participating in the Transitions and Activity Changes in Kids (TRACK) Study in 2008-2009 and 2010-2011. We assessed total PA in youth using accelerometry and categorized youth and parent survey data into blocks based on the socioecological model. Multivariate regression growth curve models evaluated whether the association between change in independent variables and change in PA was modified by race/ethnicity or SES. RESULTS: PA declined from fifth to seventh grade among all racial/ethnic and SES groups. Associations between the range of variables and change in PA were modified by race/ethnicity but not SES. Blacks did not share any common predictors of change in PA with whites or Hispanics. However, child-reported number of active friends was associated with total PA, and enjoyment of PA was associated with change in PA among both whites and Hispanics. Significant interactions by time varied by racial/ethnic group. CONCLUSIONS: The factors that influence changes in youth PA vary by race/ethnicity but not SES. These findings reinforce the complex nature of addressing PA behavior in diverse samples and further support the need for culturally appropriate interventions to promote PA in youth.