Context: Minority young adults (YA) currently represent the largest growing population with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and experience very poor outcomes. Modifiable drivers of disparities need to be identified, but are not well-studied.Objective: To describe racial-ethnic disparities among YA with T1D and identify drivers of glycemic disparity other than socioeconomic status (SES).Design: Cross-sectional multicenter collection of patient and chart-reported variables, including SES, social determinants of health, and diabetes-specific factors, with comparison between non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, and Hispanic YA and multilevel modeling to identify variables that account for glycemic disparity apart from SES.Setting: Six diabetes centers across the United States.Participants: A total of 300 YA with T1D (18-28 years: 33% non-Hispanic White, 32% non-Hispanic Black, and 34% Hispanic).Main Outcome: Racial-ethnic disparity in HbA1c levels.Results: Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic YA had lower SES, higher HbA1c levels, and much lower diabetes technology use than non-Hispanic White YA (P < 0.001). Non-Hispanic Black YA differed from Hispanic, reporting higher diabetes distress and lower self-management (P < 0.001). After accounting for SES, differences in HbA1c levels disappeared between non-Hispanic White and Hispanic YA, whereas they remained for non-Hispanic Black YA (+ 2.26% [24 mmol/mol], P < 0.001). Diabetes technology use, diabetes distress, and disease self-management accounted for a significant portion of the remaining non-Hispanic Black–White glycemic disparity.Conclusion: This study demonstrated large racial-ethnic inequity in YA with T1D, especially among non-Hispanic Black participants. Our findings reveal key opportunities for clinicians to potentially mitigate glycemic disparity in minority YA by promoting diabetes technology use, connecting with social programs, and tailoring support for disease self-management and diabetes distress to account for social contextual factors.

OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to report on the measurement properties of the revised and updated Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) 3.2 Diabetes Module for children, adolescents, and young adults with type 1 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS The 33-item PedsQL 3.2 Diabetes Module and PedsQL Generic Core Scales were completed in a 10-site national field test study by 656 families of patients ages 2–25 years with type 1 diabetes. RESULTS The 15-item Diabetes Symptoms Summary Score and 18-item Diabetes Management Summary Score were derived from the factor analysis of the items. The Diabetes Symptoms and Diabetes Management Summary Scores evidenced excellent reliability (patient self-report α = 0.88–0.90; parent proxy report α = 0.89–0.90). The Diabetes Symptoms and Diabetes Management Summary Scores demonstrated construct validity through medium to large effect size correlations with the Generic Core Scales Total Scale Score (r = 0.43–0.67, P < 0.001). HbA_1c was significantly correlated with the Diabetes Symptoms and Diabetes Management Summary Scores (r = −0.21 to −0.29, P < 0.001). Minimal clinically important difference scores ranged from 5.05 to 5.55. CONCLUSIONS The PedsQL 3.2 Diabetes Module Diabetes Symptoms and Diabetes Management Summary Scores demonstrated excellent measurement properties and may be useful as standardized patient-reported outcomes of diabetes symptoms and diabetes management in clinical research, clinical trials, and practice in children, adolescents, and young adults with type 1 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: Young adults with type 1 diabetes transitioning from pediatric to adult care are at risk for adverse outcomes. We developed a survey to evaluate transition experiences in two groups of young adults with type 1 diabetes, before (PEDS) and after (ADULT) transition to adult care. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We fielded an electronic survey to young adults (18 to 6 months between pediatric and adult care. Receipt of transition preparation counseling was not associated with self-reported hemoglobin A1c <7.0% in either group. CONCLUSIONS: These results support the need for intensive efforts to integrate transition preparation counseling and care coordination into pediatric type 1 diabetes care.

Background: Young adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) experience poor glycemic control, disengagement in care, and are often lost to the medical system well into their adult years. Diabetes providers need a new approach to working with the population. The goal of this study was to determine whether an innovative shared telemedicine appointment care model (CoYoT1 Clinic [pronounced as “coyote”; Colorado Young Adults with T1D]) for young adults with T1D improves care engagement, satisfaction, and adherence to American Diabetes Association (ADA) guidelines regarding appointment frequency. Subjects and Methods: CoYoT1 Clinic was designed to meet the diabetes care needs of young adults (18–25 years of age) with T1D through home telemedicine. Visits occurred every 3 months over the 1-year study (three times by home telemedicine and one time in-person). Outcomes were compared to patients receiving treatment as usual (control). Results: Compared with controls, CoYoT1 patients attended significantly more clinic visits (P < 0.0001) and increased their number of clinic visits from the year before the intervention. Seventy-four percent of CoYoT1 patients were seen four times over the 12-month study period, meeting ADA guidelines, but none in the control group met the ADA recommendation. CoYoT1 patients used diabetes technologies more frequently and reported greater satisfaction with care compared with controls. Conclusions: Delivering diabetes care by home telemedicine increases young adults' adherence to ADA guidelines and usage of diabetes technologies, and improves retention in care when compared to controls. Home telemedicine may keep young adults engaged in their diabetes care during this challenging transition period.

To assess the impact of a home telemedicine clinic model (CoYoT1 Clinic) on psychosocial and behavioral outcomes designed for young adults (YAs) with type 1 diabetes (T1D). YAs self-selected to participate in the CoYoT1 Clinic or serve as a usual care control. CoYoT1 Clinic visits consisted of an individual appointment with a provider and a group appointment with other YAs with T1D using home telemedicine. Psychosocial and behavioral functioning was assessed by 4 measures: Diabetes Distress Scale, Self-Efficacy for Diabetes Scale, Self-Management of Type 1 Diabetes in Adolescence Scale, and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Forty-two patients participated in the CoYoT1 Clinic and 39 patients served as controls. CoYoT1 participants reported lower levels of distress (P = .03), increased diabetes self-efficacy (P = .01), and improved ability to communicate with others about diabetes (P = .04) over the study period compared to controls. YA males in the control group reported increases in depressive symptoms (P = .03) during the study period, but CoYoT1 participants showed no changes. Group home telemedicine for YAs with T1D positively affects diabetes distress, self-efficacy, and diabetes-specific communication. These positive findings have the potential to also affect the YAs’ long-term diabetes outcomes. Further investigation of the model is needed.