The Use of Insulin Pumps (CSII) and Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM): Does it Make a Difference? Data from the Norwegian Childhood Diabetes Registry (NCDR).

Objective:
The primary aim was to analyse the association between diabetes-specific health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and HbA1c in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. The secondary aims were to evaluate the associations between diabetes-specific HRQOL and age, sex, diabetes duration, and the use of diabetes technology in diabetes treatment.

Research Design and Methods:
Children with type 1 diabetes (10-17 years, N = 1,019) and parents (children <10 years, N = 371; 10-17 years, N = 1,070) completed the DISABKIDS diabetes-specific questionnaire (DDM-10) as part of the 2017 data collection for the Norwegian Childhood Diabetes Registry. The DDM-10 consists of two subscales—‘impact’ and ‘treatment’—with six and four items, respectively. In the linear regression models, the items and subscales were outcome variables, while HbA1c, age, sex, diabetes duration, insulin pump use, and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system use were predictor variables.

Results:
Lower HbA1c measurements and male sex were associated with higher HRQOL scores on both DDM-10 scales in the age group 10-17 years, but not in children under 10 years. Parents gave lower HRQOL scores than children in the 10-17 age group. Insulin pump and CGM use were not significantly associated with HRQOL on the impact and treatment scale.

Conclusions:
Low HbA1c and male sex are significantly associated with high HRQOL in children aged 10-17 with type 1 diabetes, but the use of diabetes technology is not positively associated with HRQOL. Differences in child- and parent-reported scores imply that parents might both over- and underestimate their child’s HRQOL.

News from 2022:
Low HbA1c and male sex are significantly associated with high HRQOL in children aged 10-17 with type 1 diabetes, but the use of diabetes technology is not positively associated with HRQOL. Differences in child- and parent-reported scores imply that parents might both over- and underestimate their child’s HRQOL.

Publications 2022:
Heiko Bratke, Eva Biringer, Hanna D Margeirsdottir, Pål R Njølstad, Torild Skrivarhaug (2022) Relation of Health-Related Quality of life with glycemic control and use of diabetes technology in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes: Results from a national population based study. Journal of Diabetes Research 2022 Nov 3; 2022: 8401328. IF: 4.011

Primary Investigator:
Heiko Bratke, MD, PhD student
Torild Skrivarhaug, MD, PhD, Professor, main supervisor

Co-investigators/participants:
Eva Biringer, MD, Senior researcher, The Department of Research and Innovation, Helse Fonna HF
Hanna Dis Margeirsdottir, MD, Oslo University Hospital
Pål R. Njølstad, MD, PhD, Professor, University of Bergen, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
Jörg Assmus, PhD, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway