Endocrine Abstracts

Objective: Our objective in this study was to identify the type of clinical care received by young type 1 diabetic patients who have made the transition from paediatric to adult care, and to assess the metabolic status of the patients. The research aimed to develop a sustainable and coordinated approach to facilitating the transition between diabetes services for adolescents and reveal from the perspective of the adolescents living with type 1 diabetes their experiences surrounding the process of transition.

Material and methods: We evaluate all the patients transferred to our adult unit during the last year. Twenty-three type 1 diabetic patients were analysed. A questionnaire was used to evaluate the opinion of the patients concerning the transitional process.

Results: Twenty-three type 1 diabetic patients (63% F/36% M) with mean evolution of diabetes 9.5 years (6–14 years). Mean BMI was 23.68 kg/m², having 44.4% of the patients BMI higher than 25 kg/m². Mean HbA1c was 7.58%(6.5–8.6%).The patients were treated with MDI (18.18% with NPH and rapid insulin and 81.8% with glargina/Detemir and rapid insulin). Nine percent had incipient nephropathy. No other chronic complications were found. The patients were quite satisfied with the transitional process.

Conclusions: Transition marks a critical phase for young, diabetic patients as they may frequently switch from one physician or centre to another. The individual optimization of therapy, established during paediatric care, provides the decisive groundwork for disease control in young adults. It’s importantant to prepare, coordinate and evaluate transitional processes between paediatric and adult units.