Objective: The main aims of this study were to assess longitudinal glycemic control and the prevalence of retinopathy and nephropathy in young people (aged 14-30 yr) with type 1 diabetes in Norway.
Method: Data on 874 patients were obtained by linking two nationwide, population-based medical quality registries: The Norwegian Diabetes Register for Adults and The Norwegian Childhood Diabetes Registry.
Results: Median age was 23 yr, median diabetes duration 9 yr and 51% were male. Median HbA1c increased through adolescence to peak at ages of 17 yr for females and 19 yr for males, females had higher HbA1c than males: 9.3% (78 mmol/mol) vs. 9.1% (76 mmol/mol). Subsequently, median HbA1c declined but was still >8% (>64 mmol/mol) for patients approaching 30 yr. Half of the patients aged 14-17 yr and 40% of patients aged 18-25 yr had HbA1c >9% (75 mmol/mol). Retinopathy was found in 16% and nephropathy in 13% of the population. Patients transferring from the pediatric department to adult care between the ages of 14 and 17 yr had higher median HbA1c and prevalence of late complications than those transferring at ages 18-22 yr. Less than 40% of patients with albuminuria were treated with ACE inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blocker.
Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that treatment of adolescents and young adults with type 1 diabetes in Norway is not optimal, especially for patients in their late teens. We suggest that pediatricians and endocrinologists should critically assess the care offered to this group and consider new approaches to help them improve glycemic control.
Keywords: diabetes complications; diabetes mellitus type 1; hemoglobin A glycosylated; registries; transition to adult care.
© 2016 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.