Better info needed in transfer from peds to adult care for T1DM

(HealthDay)—For young adults with type 1 diabetes transitioning from pediatric care to adult endocrinologists, information transfer seems to be inadequate, according to research published online Dec. 17 in Diabetes Care.

Katharine C. Garvey, M.D., M.P.H., from Boston Children's Hospital, and colleagues surveyed adult endocrinologists to present the experiences, resources, and barriers reported by those receiving and caring for young adults with type 1 diabetes. Four hundred eighteen surveys from endocrinologists met the eligibility criteria.

The researchers found that while more than 70 percent of respondents reported that often/always reviewing pediatric records and receiving summaries for transitioning young adults with type 1 diabetes was important for patient care, only 36 and 11 percent of respondents, respectively, did so. Most respondents reported easy access to diabetes educators and dietitians (94 and 95 percent, respectively), while less than half reported access to mental health professionals (42 percent). Endocrinologists without easy access to mental health professionals were more likely to report barriers to diabetes management for patients with depression, substance abuse, and eating disorders (odds ratios, 5.3, 3.5, and 2.5, respectively), after adjustment for practice setting and experience.

"Our findings underscore the need for enhanced information transfer between pediatric and adult providers and increased mental health referral access for young adults with diabetes post-transition," the authors write.