We examined the association between diabetes stigma, sociodemographic and psychosocial variables in AYAs with type 1 (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) in the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth study, 2016-2019. A 5-question survey assessed frequency of perceived stigma experience, from which we created a total stigma score. We used multivariable modeling to examine these associations adjusting for sex, race/ethnicity, age, clinic site, diabetes duration, education level, health insurance type, treatment regimen, and HbA1c levels. Analyses were stratified by diabetes type. Of the 1,6AYAs who completed the stigma survey, 78% had T1D, 56% were female, and 48% were non-Hispanic White. Mean (SD) age at study visit was 21.7 (5.1) years (range - 24.9 years) . Mean (SD) HbA1c level was 9.2% (2.3) . Participants with T1D with lower household income had higher stigma scores compared to those with higher household income (p=0.03) . Among AYAs with T1D or T2D, higher stigma score was associated with food insecurity (p< 0.01) , disordered eating behaviors (p < 0.01) , depressive symptoms (p < 0.01) , and decreased AYA (p<0.01) and diabetes quality of life (p < 0.01) scores. Diabetes stigma is associated with food insecurity and decreased psychosocial functioning and therefore is important to address in providing comprehensive diabetes care. Disclosure K.B.Eitel: None. E.T.Jensen: Consultant; Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. A.D.Liese: None. S.M.Marcovina: None. E.J.Mayer-davis: None. K.Reynolds: Research Support; Amgen Inc., Merck & Co., Inc., Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. C.Pihoker: None. A.J.Roberts: None. R.Dagostino: Consultant; Aetion, Inc., AstraZeneca, Biogen, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Daiichi Sankyo, Merck & Co., Inc. R.A.Bell: None. A.Bellatorre: None. C.E.Barrett: None. A.Cristello: None. D.Dabelea: None. L.M.Dolan: None. Funding The SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Cohort Study (1R01DK127208-01, 1UC4DK108173) is funded by the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
We examined the association between diabetes stigma and glycemic control, treatment regimen, and acute and chronic complications in adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with type 1 (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) in the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study, 2016-2019. A 5-question survey assessed frequency of perceived stigma experience, from which we created a total stigma score. We used multivariable linear modeling, stratified by T1D and T2D, to examine the association of diabetes stigma with clinical factors, adjusting for sociodemographic, clinic site, duration of diabetes, health insurance type, treatment regimen, and HbA1c. Of 16respondents, 78% had T1D, 56% were female, and 48% were non-Hispanic White. Mean (SD) age at study visit was 21.7 (5.1) years (range - 24.9 years) . Mean (SD) HbA1c was 9.2% (2.3) . Higher stigma scores were associated with female sex and higher HbA1c (both p <0.01, table) . No statistically significant association between stigma score and insulin pump or continuous glucose monitor use was observed. In participants with T2D, higher stigma scores were associated with insulin use (p = 0.04) . Independent of HbA1c, higher stigma scores were associated with acute complications for AYAs with T1D and chronic complications for AYAs with T1D and T2D (table) . Diabetes stigma in AYAs is associated with worse diabetes outcomes and therefore is important to address in diabetes care. Disclosure K.B.Eitel: None. E.T.Jensen: Consultant; Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. A.D.Liese: None. S.M.Marcovina: None. E.J.Mayer-davis: None. K.Reynolds: Research Support; Amgen Inc., Merck & Co., Inc., Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. C.Pihoker: None. A.J.Roberts: None. R.Dagostino: Consultant; Aetion, Inc., AstraZeneca, Biogen, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Daiichi Sankyo, Merck & Co., Inc. R.A.Bell: None. A.Bellatorre: None. C.E.Barrett: None. A.Cristello: None. D.Dabelea: None. L.M.Dolan: None. Funding The SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Cohort Study (1R01DK127208-01, 1UC4DK108173) is funded by the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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