Objective To investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on caregivers of youth with type 1 diabetes. Methods We performed a qualitative research based on an open-ended questionnaire that was conducted through an online platform for primary caregivers of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Participants were asked to describe the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on their caring for youth with diabetes, as well as the emotional burden that it has brought to their personal lives. Interview responses were coded and stratified by youth age: ≤ 12 years (youth aged ≤ 12 years) and between 13 and 18 years (youth aged > 12 years). The connections between the responses were identified based on either positive or negative content of the reported experience. Data were analyzed in accordance with an inductive reasoning methodology. Results A total of 318 participants (mean age of 40.3 ± 8.1 years old) were included, representing caregivers of youth aged 11.7 ± 4.3-year-old with diabetes duration of 5.1 ± 3.8 years. The preponderance of negative feelings was noteworthy. Regarding diabetes care, more than 80% of participants reported concern and anxiety about the changes in habits that accompanied the pandemic. Also, more than half of caregivers regretted the isolation of their youth, factors that were associated with greater difficulty in achieving good glycemic control. Regarding the personal burden experienced, the negative impact of uncertainties and concerns about the COVID-19 were present in almost all participants. Conclusion The period of pandemic may lead to exhaustion in caregivers of youths with type 1 diabetes, which reflects the need for mental health support strategies to help those families. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00592-021-01753-3.

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Objective: To assess caregivers' perception about the changes in the daily habits of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Subjects and methods: Primary caregivers of youth aged ≤18 with or without type 1 diabetes were selected for the diabetes and the control groups. Caregivers estimated the youth's time (hours) of physical activity and screen time before and during the pandemic, and rated the quality of eating habits and medication adherence from 0 to 10. The primary outcome was the change in physical activity time, screen time, and eating habits scores during isolation. Between-group analyses and within-group comparisons were conducted. A post hoc analysis was performed using logistic regression to correct for confounding factors. Results: In total, 764 participants were included (381 diabetes group vs. 383 control group). Before the pandemic, the diabetes group presented a reduced median of physical activity (P < 0.001) and screen time (P < 0.001). During the pandemic, the difference between both groups remained similar (P = 0.58). Scores of quality of eating habits were similar in both groups before the pandemic [8.

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