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Microvascular diabetes complications in a specialist young adult diabetes service

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Irish Journal of Medical Science (1971 -) Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background and aims

The provision of medical care to young adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus is challenging. The aim of this study was to determine the rates of microvascular complications and their progression among patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus attending a specialist young adult diabetes service in Ireland.

Methods

A retrospective review of 62 (male 56.5%) patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus attending the young adult diabetes service at our institution was undertaken. Data was recorded across two time points, clinic registration and at 5 years following initial contact.

Results

The mean ± SD age at first attendance was 17.4 ± 2.0 years. Mean ± SD duration of diabetes was 6.3 ± 3.9 years with most patients treated using multiple daily insulin injections (75.8%). diabetic retinopathy rate at first attendance was 17.7% and after 5 years was 37.1% (p = 0.003). The majority of cases were background retinopathy. The prevalence of diabetic kidney disease was 6.4% and this remained unchanged at follow-up. Mean ± SD HbA1c improved from 76.1 ± 22.4 mmol/mol (9.1 ± 4.2%) to 69.1 ± 14.9 mmol/mol (8.5 ± 3.5%), p = 0.044. Duration of diabetes was the only clinical variable associated with retinopathy risk at 5 years on multiple regression analysis (p = 0.037).

Conclusions

Diabetic retinopathy is prevalent in young adults with type 1 diabetes attending specialist secondary care diabetes services. Duration of diabetes was the strongest determinant of retinopathy risk.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital and University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

    Audrey Melvin, Lynn Redahan, Mensud Hatunic & Siobhán E McQuaid

Authors
  1. Audrey Melvin
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  2. Lynn Redahan
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  3. Mensud Hatunic
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  4. Siobhán E McQuaid
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Correspondence to Audrey Melvin.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

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Melvin, A., Redahan, L., Hatunic, M. et al. Microvascular diabetes complications in a specialist young adult diabetes service. Ir J Med Sci 188, 129–134 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-018-1827-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-018-1827-9

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