Denis Daneman

Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes accounts for only about 5-10% of all cases of diabetes; however, its incidence continues to increase worldwide and it has serious short-term and long-term implications. The disorder has a strong genetic component, inherited mainly through the HLA complex, but the factors that trigger onset of clinical disease remain largely unknown. Management of type 1 diabetes is best undertaken in the context of a multidisciplinary health team and requires continuing attention to many aspects, including insulin administration, blood glucose monitoring, meal planning, and screening for comorbid conditions and diabetes-related complications. These complications consist of microvascular and macrovascular disease, which account for the major morbidity and mortality associated with type 1 diabetes. Newer treatment approaches have facilitated improved outcomes in terms of both glycaemic control and reduced risks for development of complications. Nonetheless, major challenges remain in the development of approaches to the prevention and management of type 1 diabetes and its complications.

Eating disorders in adolescent females with and without type 1 diabetes: cross sectional study

Abstract Objective: determine the prevalence of eating disorders in adolescent females with type 1 diabetes mellitus compared with that in their non-diabetic peers. Design: Cross sectional case-control led study. Setting: Diabetes clinics and schools in three Canadian cities. Subjects: 356 females aged 12-19 with type 1 diabetes and 1098 age matched non-diabetic controls. Main outcome measure: Eating disorders meeting Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders(DSM-IV) criteria. Results: Eating disorders that met DSM-IV criteria were more prevalent in diabetic subjects (36, 10%) than in non-diabetic controls (49, 4%) (odds ratio 2.4, 95% confidence interval 1.5 to 3.7; P<0.001). Subthreshold eating disorders were also more common in those with diabetes (49, 14%) than in controls (84, 8%) (odds ratio 1.9, 95% confidence interval 1.3 to 2.8; P<0.001). Mean haemoglobin A1cconcentration was higher in diabetic subjects with an eating disorder (9.4% (1.8)) than in those without (8.6% (1.6)), P=0.04). Conclusions: DSM-IV and subthreshold eating disorders are almost twice as common in adolescent females with type 1 diabetes as in their non-diabetic peers. In diabetic subjects, eating disorders are associated with insulin omission for weight loss and impaired metabolic control.

Disordered Eating Behavior and Microvascular Complications in Young Women with Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus

BACKGROUND Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and eating disorders are relatively common among young women in North America. Their coexistence could lead to poor metabolic control and an increased risk of the microvascular complications of IDDM. METHODS We studied 91 young women with IDDM at base line and four to five years later to determine the prevalence and persistence of disordered eating behavior (on the basis of self-reported eating and weight-loss practices, including the intentional omission or underdosing of insulin to control weight) and the association of such eating disorders with metabolic control, diabetic retinopathy, and urinary albumin excretion. At base line, the mean age of the young women was 15+/-2 years and the duration of diabetes was 7+/-4 years. RESULTS At base line, 26 of 91 young women (29 percent) had highly or moderately disordered eating behavior, which persisted in 16 (18 percent) and improved in 10 (11 percent). Of the 65 women with normal eating behavior at base line (71 percent), 14 (15 percent) had disordered eating at follow-up. Omission or underdosing of insulin lose weight was reported by 12 of 88 young women (14 percent) at base line and 30 (34 percent) at follow-up (P=0.003). At base line, the mean (+/-SD) hemoglobin A(1c) value was higher in the group with highly disordered eating behavior (11.1+/-1.2 percent) than in the groups whose eating behavior was moderately disordered (8.9+/-1.7 percent) or nondisordered (8.7+/-1.6 percent, P<0.001). Disordered eating at base line was associated with retinopathy four years later (P=0.004), when 86 percent of the young women with highly disordered eating behavior, 43 percent of those with moderately disordered eating behavior, and 24 percent of those with nondisordered eating behavior had retinopathy. CONCLUSIONS Disordered eating behavior is common and persistent in young women with IDDM and is associated with impaired metabolic control and a higher risk of diabetic retinopathy.

ESPE/LWPES consensus statement on diabetic ketoacidosis in children and adolescents

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (TIDM). Mortality is predominantly related to the occurrence of cerebral oedema; only a minority of deaths in DKA are attributed to other causes. Cerebral oedema occurs in about 0.3–1% of all episodes of DKA, and its aetiology, pathophysiology, and ideal method of treatment are poorly understood. There is debate as to whether physicians treating DKA can prevent or predict the occurrence of cerebral oedema, and the appropriate site(s) for children with DKA to be managed. There is agreement that prevention of DKA and reduction of its incidence should be a goal in managing children with diabetes.

Diabetic ketoacidosis in children and adolescents with diabetes

aDivision of Endocrinology, Children’s Hospital Boston, MA, USA; bSchool of Women’s and Children’s Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; cUniversity of Toronto, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada; dDepartment of Paediatrics, University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, UK; eDepartment of Paediatrics, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK; fEndocrinology Service Department of Paediatric Medicine, KK Children’s Hospital, Singapore; gDivision of Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA; hDepartment of Pediatric Endocrinology, Children’s Hospital, University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA; iDepartment of Pediatrics, Uddevalla Hospital, Uddevalla, Sweden

Transition to adult care for youths with diabetes mellitus: findings from a Universal Health Care System.

OBJECTIVES: The goals were (1) to describe rates of diabetes mellitus (DM)-related hospitalizations and retinopathy screening before and after transition to adult care and (2) to test whether different methods of transfer of care were associated with improved outcomes. METHODS: In a retrospective cohort study, we included 1507 young adults with DM of ≥5-year duration and tracked these patients until 20 years of age. RESULTS: DM-related hospitalization rates increased from 7.6 to 9.5 cases per 100 patient-years in the 2 years after transition to adult care (P = .03). Previous DM-related hospitalizations, lower income, female gender, and living in areas with low physician supply were associated with higher admission rates. With controlling for all other factors, individuals who were transferred to a new allied health care team with no change in physician were 77% less likely (relative risk: 0.23 [95% confidence interval: 0.05–0.79]) to be hospitalized after the transition than were those transferred to a new physician with either a new or no allied health care team. The rates of eye examinations were stable across the transition to adult care (72% vs 70%; P = .06). Female patients, patients with higher income, and patients with previous eye care were more likely to have an eye care visit after transfer. CONCLUSIONS: During the transition to adult health care, there is increased risk of DM-related hospitalizations, although this may be attenuated in youths for whom there is physician continuity. Eye care visits were not related to transition; however, rates were below evidence-based guideline recommendations.

Insulin injection regimens and metabolic control in an international survey of adolescents with type 1 diabetes over 3 years: Results from the Hvidore study group

Abstract. The optimal insulin regimen for paediatric patients with type 1 diabetes remains controversial. Therefore this multicentre study was performed in adolescents over a 3-year period to assess metabolic control, severe hypoglycaemia, and weight gain in relation to insulin injection regimens. Out of 2873 children and adolescents in an international survey in 1995, 872 adolescents (433 boys, 439 girls, mean age in 1995 11.3±2.2 years) were restudied in 1998, relating insulin regimens to HbA1c measured in a central laboratory. In addition, the daily dose of insulin, changes in body mass index (BMI), and events of severe hypoglycaemia were evaluated. Over 3 years, the use of multiple injection regimens increased from 42% to 71%: 251 patients remained on twice daily insulin, 365 remained on multiple injections and 256 shifted from twice daily insulin to multiple injections. In all three subgroups an increase in insulin dose, a deterioration of metabolic control, and an increase in BMI were observed. Metabolic control deteriorated less than expected over 3 years during adolescence (HbA1c 1995: 8.7±1.6%; 1998 observed: 8.9±1.6%, HbA1c expected for 1998: 9.0%). BMI increased more than expected, the increase was greatest in patients switching from twice daily to multiple injections, and higher in females compared to males. Conclusion: in this international study, metabolic control was unsatisfactory in many adolescents with type 1 diabetes irrespective of the insulin regimen. No improvement in metabolic control was observed in this cross-sectional survey, over 3 years in any of the subgroups. Even the group switching from twice to multiple injections did not improve blood glucose control and the increase in body mass index was most pronounced in this group. Conclusive evidence, however, should be based on prospectively planned, randomised therapeutic trials in paediatric patients.

Relationship of Self-efficacy and Binging to Adherence to Diabetes Regimen Among Adolescents

Objective –To test the hypothesis that poorer adherence to diabetes care is related to four variables associated with self-concept in adolescents with diabetes: self-esteem, self-efficacy, depression, and binging behavior. In addition, we expected adolescent females to be less adherent to diabetes care. Research Design and Methods –We recruited 193 consecutive patients (aged 13–18 yr) with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus during their regular quarterly visit to a diabetes clinic in a large urban hospital. Participants completed the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Childrens Depression Inventory, an assessment of the frequency of binging in the past 3 mo, and parallel forms of an adherence scale and a self-efficacy scale that were developed for use in this study. Results –Adolescents who reported lower adherence tended to report lower self-esteem (r = 0.45, P < 0.001) and self-efficacy (r = 0.57, P < 0.001), more depressive symptoms (r = −0.50, P < 0.001), more binging (r = −0.36, P < 0.001), and had higher HbA1c (r = −0.24, P < 0.001) than those with higher adherence scores. Together, the psychological variables accounted for 50% of the variance in adherence. There was no sex difference in reported binging, but, as expected, adolescent females reported less adherence overall (F[7,184] = 2.5, P = 0.018). Conclusions –Treatment adherence in adolescents with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus is associated with behavioral and psychological variables. These findings suggest that specific behavioral and cognitive interventions could be used to improve adherence in those individuals who lack confidence in their ability to perform diabetes-related tasks.

Neonatal thyrotoxicosis: Intellectual impairment and craniosynostosis in later years

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Eating disorders and IDDM. A problematic association.

IDDM and eating disorders are common conditions in young women. Whether a specific association exists between these two disorders remains controversial. Some studies have suggested an increased incidence of eating disorders in young women with IDDM, whereas others have not detected such an increase. These differences may be attributable, at least in part, to methodological issues in study design, measurement tools, and relatively small sample sizes. Whether the prevalence of eating disorders in IDDM is increased will be resolved only by larger studies that use standardized diagnostic interviews. We suspect that certain aspects of IDDM and its management may trigger the expression of an eating disorder in susceptible individuals. Required dietary restraint and weight gain related to diabetes management are the factors most likely to be implicated. Eating disorders are relatively common in young women with IDDM and may contribute to impaired metabolic control with hypoglycemia and DKA, and to long-term microvascular complications of diabetes. Omission or reduction of required insulin, an extremely common means of weight control in these young women, is likely an important factor in this regard. Further research is required to determine more precisely the relationship between IDDM and eating disorders, and the effects of eating disorders on metabolic control and chronic complications of IDDM.