OBJECTIVE To determine if a structured transition program for young adults with type 1 diabetes improves clinic attendance, glycemic control, diabetes-related distress, quality of life, and satisfaction with care. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS In this multicenter randomized controlled trial, young adults (17–20 years) with type 1 diabetes were randomly assigned to a transition program with a transition coordinator or to standard care. The intervention lasted 18 months (6 in pediatric and 12 in adult care). The primary outcome was the proportion of participants who failed to attend at least one adult diabetes clinic visit during the 12-month follow-up after completion of the intervention. RESULTS We randomized 205 participants, 104 to the transition program and 101 to standard care. Clinic attendance was improved in the transition program (mean [SD] number of visits 4.1 [1.1] vs. 3.6 [1.2], P = 0.002), and there was greater satisfaction with care (mean [SD] score 29.0 [2.7] vs. 27.9 [3.4], P = 0.032) and less diabetes-related distress (mean [SD] score 1.9 [0.8] vs. 2.1 [0.8], P = 0.049) reported than in standard care. There was a trend toward improvement in mean HbA1c (8.33% [68 mmol/mol] vs. 8.80% [73 mmol/mol], P = 0.057). During the 12-month follow-up, there was no difference in those failing to attend at least one clinic visit (P = 0.846), and the mean change in HbA1c did not differ between the groups (P = 0.073). At completion of follow-up, the groups did not differ with respect to satisfaction with care or diabetes-related distress and quality of life. CONCLUSIONS Transition support during this 18-month intervention was associated with increased clinic attendance, improved satisfaction with care, and decreased diabetes-related distress, but these benefits were not sustained 12 months after completion of the intervention.

BackgroundTransition from pediatric to adult diabetes care is a high risk period during which there is an increased rate of disengagement from care. Suboptimal transition has been associated with higher risks for acute and chronic diabetes-related complications. The period of emerging adulthood challenges current systems of healthcare delivery as many young adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) default from diabetes care and are at risk for diabetes complications which are undetected and therefore untreated. Despite the importance of minimizing loss to follow-up there are no randomized control trials evaluating models of transition from pediatric to adult diabetes care.Methods/DesignThis is a multicentre randomized controlled trial. A minimum of 188 subjects with T1D aged between 17 and 20 years will be evaluated. Eligible subjects will be recruited from three pediatric care centres and randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to a structured transition program that will span 18 months or to receive standard diabetes care. The structured transition program is a multidisciplinary, complex intervention aiming to provide additional support in the transition period. A Transition Coordinator will provide transition support and will provide the link between pediatric and adult diabetes care. The Transition Coordinator is central to the intervention to facilitate ongoing contact with the medical system as well as education and clinical support where appropriate. Subjects will be seen in the pediatric care setting for 6 months and will then be transferred to the adult care setting where they will be seen for one year. There will then be a one-year follow-up period for outcome assessment. The primary outcome is the proportion of subjects who fail to attend at least one outpatient adult diabetes specialist visit during the second year after transition to adult diabetes care. Secondary outcome measures include A1C frequency measurement and levels, diabetes related emergency room visits and hospital admissions, frequency of complication screening, and subject perception and satisfaction with care.DiscussionThis trial will determine if the support of a Transition Coordinator improves health outcomes for this at-risk population of young adults.Trial registrationTrial Registration Number: NCT01351857

BackgroundAdrenal suppression (AS), a glucocorticoid (GC) side effect associated with significant morbidity, is well described related to inhaled corticosteroid therapy for asthma. Swallowed topical glucocorticoid therapy is the main pharmacotherapy treatment for eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and therefore children with EoE are potentially at increased risk of AS.MethodsIn this prospective cohort study, we included children and youth <18 years diagnosed with EoE and treated with swallowed fluticasone or oral viscous budesonide for more than 1 month. First morning cortisol and low dose adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation test (LDST) were performed 2 weeks following GC discontinuation. AS was defined as an abnormal LDST result (cortisol peak <500 nmol/L). We determined the prevalence and duration of AS related to swallowed topical GC therapy in EoE by LDST, as well as the diagnostic accuracy of first morning cortisol compared to LDST.ResultsOf 29 participants enrolled, 26 (89.7 %) received oral viscous budesonide and 3 (10.3 %) received swallowed fluticasone. Nineteen (65.5 %) participants had AS. Median duration of AS was 43 weeks. Five (17.2 %) participants had persistent AS at 12 months. There were no identifiable risk factors for the development of AS. First morning cortisol was highly specific but had poor sensitivity for detection of AS.ConclusionsThe majority of children with EoE had AS after discontinuation of swallowed topical GC therapy. Stress steroids should be considered in children treated with swallowed topical GC therapy for EoE, even after GC discontinuation, to prevent possible adrenal crisis.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13223-016-0154-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.