Diabetes Management in Primary Care

Authors: Unger, Jeff

Title: Diabetes Management in the Primary Care Setting, 1st Edition

Copyright 2007 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

> Table of Contents > 8 - Management of Diabetes in Pregnancy, Childhood, and Adolescence

8

Management of Diabetes in Pregnancy, Childhood, and Adolescence

Take Home Points

• Preconception planning should begin when all female patients with diabetes reach puberty.

• Patients should attain and maintain an A1C of 6.5% to 7% for at least 6 months before becoming pregnant.

• During pregnancy, a basal-bolus insulin regimen should be prescribed with close monitoring of 1-hour postprandial glucose levels.

• Babies born to mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are more likely to have macrosomia. Patients (with GDM) are at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Lifestyle intervention strategies during pregnancy include caloric modification and moderate exercise.

• Scheduled antepartum monitoring can detect fetal anomalies in a high percentage of patients with diabetes. However, maternal hyperglycemia may limit the sensitivity of some of the third-trimester tests.

• Children born to mothers with GDM are at high risk for developing T2DM as adolescents. This can result in cardiovascular disease occurring at a very young age.

• The differential diagnosis between type 1 diabetes (T1DM) and T2DM in children is based on the initial clinical presentation and presence of autoantibodies.

• The glycemic targets of children and adolescents vary, depending on their age group.

• Eating disorders are twice as common in adolescents with diabetes as in nondiabetics. Patients with eating disorders omit insulin to control weight gain. These individuals have frequent episodes of diabetic ketoacidosis, recurrent hospitalizations, and premature microvascular complications.

• Parents believe hypoglycemia is the most feared complication associated with intensive management of T1DM in children and adolescents.

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Preconception Planning

Case 1

Phyllis is accompanied by her mother for her first-ever Pap smear. After Phyllis confided in her mother 2 weeks ago that she has become sexually active for the first time, Phyllis' mother is requesting that her 16-year-old daughter immediately be placed on oral contraceptives. During the past 2 years, Phyllis' control of her diabetes has been far from desirable. She has been hospitalized twice for diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), including one stay that lasted 10 days. Her last A1C was 11.2% despite being on a basal-bolus insulin regimen. Phyllis is a cheerleader and tends to party with her friends on weekends. She admits to omitting doses of insulin on occasions because she is trying to control her weight since being forced to take insulin. Fortunately, Phyllis is not hesitant to begin an oral contraceptive and promises to begin taking a more intensive approach to her diabetes.

For this family's primary care physician (PCP), several important management issues must be addressed:

• At what age and how often should preconception counseling occur?

• What are the risks involved in unplanned pregnancies occurring during times of persistent hyperglycemia?

• How does one evaluate and treat eating disorders that are commonly associated with adolescent T1DM?

• What is the American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommended A1C treatment target in adolescence, and how can this goal be safely achieved?

Hyperglycemia during pregnancy significantly increases the risk of birth defects in babies born to mothers with diabetes.¹ Prior to the discovery of insulin in 1922, diabetic maternal mortality was as high as 44%, whereas the perinatal death rate approached 60%.² Uncontrolled diabetes at the time of conception can result in spontaneous miscarriages in 30% to 60% of all pregnancies.³ The risk of congenital anomalies in infants of diabetic mothers is 6% to 12%, which is 2 to 5 times greater than that of the normal population.³ Congenital anomalies and spontaneous abortions account for 65% of perinatal losses in diabetic gestations.⁴ An elevated maternal A1C level early in pregnancy, is an independent risk factor for pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia.⁵ The presence of diabetic nephropathy (defined as persistent proteinuria or albuminuria >300 mg per day) in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of intrauterine growth retardation, fetal distress, and pre-eclampsia.⁵

The risks of DKA during pregnancy include life-threatening metabolic derangements for the woman and intrauterine death for the fetus.⁶ Furthermore, the tightly controlled blood sugars recommended in pregnancy increase the risk for maternal hypoglycemia and fetal injury. A sobering fact is that

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Preferably, pregnancy should be planned and managed while the maternal glycemic control is as close to normal as possible. Unfortunately, preconception planning for pregnancy is the exception rather than the rule. Between 1986 and 1988, only 7% of women in California sought preconception care, whereas 34% of eligible women in Maine sought preconception counseling from 1987 to 1990.^8,9 A recent analysis demonstrated the benefits of targeting preconception care for patients with T1DM.^9a Of the 288 women enrolled in the study, the 38% who elected to pursue preconception counseling had significantly fewer adverse pregnancy outcomes (malformations, stillbirths, neonatal deaths) when compared with women who declined the specialized care (2.9% vs. 10.2%). The counseled patients had fewer premature deliveries (<34 weeks' gestation) (5% vs. 14%) and better glycemic control during the initial 20 weeks of their pregnancies. In contrast, there was no significant difference in rates of delivery before 37 weeks, pre-eclampsia, macrosomia, or cesarean section between women with and without prepregnancy care.

Preconception care is critical to improving the outcomes of all pregnancies as well as the general health of the nation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has established a goal to have PCPs provide age-appropriate preconception care to all adolescent and women patients.^9b However, only 25% of our nation's PCPs address preconception planning with any of their patients. Preconception planning for all patients, especially those with high-risk pregnancies, should include the following interventions:

• General reproductive health education

• Prevention of unwanted or mistimed pregnancies

• Ways to prepare mentally, socially, and physically for a pregnancy

• Prevention of sexually transmitted diseases

• Promotion of healthy nutrition and physical activity beginning in adolescence and continuing throughout one's lifespan

• Folic acid supplementation during reproductive years

• Cessation of alcohol, nicotine, and illicit drugs

• Vaccination against infectious diseases associated with poor birth outcomes and sexually transmitted diseases (e.g., rubella and cervical cancer)

• Aggressive management of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, mental illness, and hypothyroidism

• Cessation of any prescription or over-the-counter medications that are teratogenic

As only 41% of pregnancies in the United States are planned,¹⁰ preconception awareness counseling should begin when girls with diabetes reach

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A1C levels at the time of fertilization and embryogenesis have been linked to a higher rate of spontaneous abortions and congenital malformations.¹² Patients should be informed that long-term complications such as retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy may be exacerbated during pregnancy. In general, targeted glycemic control should be obtained (A1C, 6.5% to 7%) and maintained for at least 6 months before a patient becomes pregnant.¹³ In any patient who has retinopathy at the onset of pregnancy, worsening of her retinopathy may develop as one attempts to normalize her blood glucose levels rapidly.¹⁴ Therefore, the clinician should consider slowly improving glycemic control in patients with retinopathy, and make certain to have all women with diabetes evaluated by an ophthalmologist as part of the initial pregnancy evaluation.

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), defined as the new onset or new diagnosis of glucose intolerance during pregnancy, affects 200,000 pregnancies in the United States annually.¹⁵ GDM results from peripheral insulin resistance, hepatic insulin resistance, and impaired insulin secretion, similar to the pathophysiologic process involved with T2DM (Fig. 8-1).

Although screening for GDM has not been proven to prevent adverse perinatal outcomes, risk assessment for GDM should be performed at the first prenatal visit. Women considered to be at high risk for GDM (Table 8-1) should undergo immediate diagnostic testing. If the initial test is negative, the patient should be retested at between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation. Pregnant women at low risk (younger than 25 years, normal weight, and no personal or family history of diabetes) need not be tested for GDM.¹⁶

Pregnant women with an average risk should undergo a two-step glucose testing protocol: A 50-g, 1-hour glucose challenge test; then a 100-g, oral, 3-hour glucose tolerance test if the patient exceeds the glucose threshold on the initial test of greater than 140 mg per dL. In women with multiple risk factors, a one-step 100-g, 3-hour glucose challenge test may be a more cost-effective way to diagnose GDM. Diagnostic thresholds for the 100-g test are

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GDM can result in complications for both the fetus and mother, as outlined below.

Approximately 50% of patients with GDM will have a recurrence of GDM during future pregnancies. Women with higher prepregnancy weight, older women (older than 35),¹⁷ and multiparous women have recurrence rates of more than 90%.¹⁸ With each episode of GDM, beta-cell dysfunction may deteriorate, increasing the risk of T2DM developing after delivery.

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Often GDM is diagnosed well after embryogenesis occurs and has been associated with an increased risk of congenital anomalies. The most common fetal abnormality of GDM is macrosomia, defined as fetal weight greater than 4 to 4.5 kg.

Prevention of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Despite the prevalence of GDM, little research has been performed on preventing the disorder. The only modifiable risk factor of GDM is prepregnancy obesity. Recurrence of GDM appears to be greater in women who consumed more fat between subsequent pregnancies as compared with women who consumed low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets.¹⁹

Exercise may play a role in both prevention and management of GDM. The process of glucose transport into insulin-sensitive cells has not been studied in pregnancy. Because gestational diabetes is a state of altered insulin sensitivity, exercise is a logical therapeutic intervention. Experts at the Third International Workshop-Conference on Gestational Diabetes Mellitus²⁰ suggested that active women with GDM may continue moderate exercise. Regular exercise in previously inactive women may normalize blood glucose levels. Initiating an active lifestyle program in a group of inherently inactive pregnant woman may not only improve glycemic control immediately but also may reduce the risk or delay the onset of diabetes in the future.

A clinical protocol published by Artal et al²¹ provides some exercise guideline protocols for pregnant women with GDM who wish to initiate a home-based program:

• Patient is informed of potential complications.

• Patient rests for 30 minutes before breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and monitors fetal activity.

• Patient monitors fasting and 2-hour postprandial plasma glucose.

• If fetal activity and glucose level are OK, she exercises for 20 to 30 minutes at 50% VO₂ max (percentage exertion fairly light to somewhat hard; see Table 9-12) after each prescribed meal.

• Patient rests for 30 minutes and counts fetal movements.

• If uterine contractions become regular or occur 15 minutes apart or less, patient notifies obstetrician.

• Patient keeps accurate records of blood glucose, food intake, physical activities, and fetal movements.

• Beginning at 32 weeks' gestation, nonstress testing is done weekly; further fetal tests are conducted as indicated.

Other patients may want to begin a simple walking program, which requires little medical monitoring. Along with the exercise program, women with gestational diabetes should follow a daily balanced diet calculated for 30 kcal per kg ideal body weight (consisting of 60% carbohydrates, 20% protein, and 20% fat).²² Obese women [body mass index (BMI) >30 kg per m²]

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Medical Management of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Four times daily blood glucose self-monitoring is recommended for all women with GDM, performed fasting and 1 hour after meals. Postprandial sampling has been associated with better glycemic control, a lower incidence of large-for-gestational-age infants, and a lower rate of cesarean sections.¹⁶ Approximately 20% to 60% of pregnancies complicated by GDM require the use of insulin therapy. The ADA¹⁶ recommends initiating insulin therapy when the following glycemic targets are not achieved:

Insulin dosing should be based on the amount of carbohydrates consumed at each meal. Patients should be referred to a registered dietician to learn how to correlate their insulin dose with their carbohydrate intake. In general, 1.5 units of regular lispro or aspart insulin for every 10 g of carbohydrates (carbs) covers breakfast, and 1 unit of regular, lispro, or aspart insulin covers 10 g of carbs for lunch and supper. Elevated fasting blood glucose levels can be controlled with NPH by using an initial dose of 0.15 U per kg, or glargine, 0.3 U per kg per day.

Some physicians advocate the use of serial ultrasonography to measure the fetal abdominal circumference as an alternative means to determine which patients require insulin therapy.²⁴

Use of oral hypoglycemic agents to treat gestational diabetes has not been recommended because of concerns about potential teratogenicity and transport of glucose across the placenta (causing prolonged neonatal hypoglycemia).²⁵ Although first-generation hypoglycemic agents (chlorpropamide and tolbutamide) have been shown to cross the placenta, recent in vitro and in vivo evidence has determined that glyburide does not enter the fetal circulation.²⁶

A recent randomized control trial (RCT)²⁷ comparing the use of glyburide and insulin in women with gestational diabetes demonstrated that glyburide therapy resulted in comparable maternal outcomes (e.g., glycemic control, cesarean deliveries) and neonatal outcomes (e.g., macrosomia, hypoglycemia, intensive care unit admissions). Glyburide therapy was not started before 11 weeks of gestation and the drug was not detected in any of the neonatal cord blood samples. Preliminary evidence from this trial suggests that glyburide may be a safe, effective alternative to insulin in the management of GDM.

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The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)²⁸ and the ADA¹⁹ agree that glyburide should not be prescribed for the treatment of gestational diabetes until additional RCTs support its safety and effectiveness. Because of the ease of use of glyburide, many physicians prescribe glyburide to patients with GDM in spite of these expert opinions. In a recent prospective cohort study of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome,²⁹ metformin therapy was shown to decrease the subsequent incidence of GDM, reduce first-trimester miscarriage rates, and result in no apparent increase in congenital anomalies. RCTs are needed to demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of metformin in pregnancy before use of this medication is warranted for the treatment of GDM.

After delivery, blood glucose levels should be monitored to make certain that the euglycemic state has been restored (fasting blood glucose, <100 mg per dL, and 1-hour postprandial blood glucose, <140 mg per dL). Monitoring should be continued for 6 to 8 weeks, and if the levels are consistently normal, testing may be stopped. Active lifestyle, caloric restriction, weight reduction, and healthy food choices should be encouraged at each visit. An annual 2-hour postglucose challenge should be used on all patients to screen these high-risk individuals for diabetes. Finally, PCPs should be aware that children born to mothers with GDM have a higher risk of developing T2DM as children and adolescents. Healthful lifestyle issues should be discussed with all family members at each visit so that weight can be controlled and diabetes onset may be delayed.

Management of Type 1 Diabetes during Pregnancy

Most women with diabetes who become pregnant will require the services of a perinatologist, obstetrician, registered dietician, certified diabetic educator, and an endocrinologist who specializes in pregnancies in women with diabetes.

Table 8-3 lists the pertinent historic information that should be obtained when women with diabetes are contemplating pregnancy or become pregnant.

As soon as pregnancy is confirmed, insulin dose requirements will begin to change. Total daily doses are approximately 0.6 U per kg before 6 weeks' gestation, 0.7 U per kg from 6 to 18 weeks, 0.8 U per kg from 18 to 26 weeks, 0.9 U per kg from 26 to 30 weeks, and 1.0 U per kg from 36 to 40 weeks.⁴⁰ These insulin doses are designed to match a diet that is calculated at 30 kcal per kg per day for a woman who is of normal weight (80% to 120% ideal body weight) and is divided into 40% carbs, 40% fat, and 20% protein. The diet is then subdivided into three primary meals and frequent small snacks.

The questions that should be discussed with patients during pregnancy involve the (a) type of insulin that will be used during gestation; (b) frequency and timing of dosing; (c) fasting and postprandial glycemic targets; (d) frequency of meals and snacks; (e) necessity and timing of frequent blood glucose self-monitoring; (f) management of hypoglycemia; (g) appropriateness, safety, and timing of exercise; and (h) management strategies to prevent DKA.

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Fetal anomalies, particularly macrosomia, may be prevented by maintaining strict glycemic control during pregnancy.⁸ Any blood glucose values that lie outside of the targets shown earlier are considered suboptimal. Patients should monitor before meals, 1 hour postprandially, and between 2 and 3 AM to evaluate and treat hypoglycemia. Patients are taught to recognize and respond to hypoglycemia (Fig. 8-2). Common symptoms such as perioral tingling, excessive sweating, palpitations, weakness, or confusion should prompt

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Pregnant patients with diabetes should be managed in partnership with an endocrinologist. The frequency of outpatient visits is based on the degree of patient's glycemic control. Patients with documented hyperglycemia, severe infections such as pyelonephritis, hypertension, preeclampsia, spontaneous labor, or those demonstrating poor adherence to the diabetes self-management program warrant hospitalization.

The endocrinologist should do the following:

• Review patient's medical diary regarding blood glucose control and urinary acetone levels. Adjust insulin, if needed. Ensure that blood pressure remains in the normal range

• Check that obstetrical antepartum testing is being performed in a timely manner, and discuss any abnormal findings with the obstetrical team (Table 8-5).

• Make necessary dietary adjustments to improve glucose control. Provide dietary counseling, as needed.

• Ensure that patient has all necessary materials for blood glucose self-monitoring and administration of insulin.

• Schedule testing for first-, second-, and third-trimester creatinine clearance, total proteinuria, microalbuminuria, urine culture and sensitivity, thyroid function, and complete ophthalmologic consultation.

• After 32 weeks, review daily fetal movement record.

Safety of Insulin Use during Pregnancy

Although no insulin has a category A pregnancy classification, regular and NPH insulin have been used extensively in pregnant women. Lispro has a

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Concerns regarding the use of insulin lispro during pregnancy first surfaced in 1997.³⁰ One patient who became pregnant while using insulin lispro had a pregnancy termination at 20 weeks' gestation. A second patient using lispro delivered a normal baby at term. However, the baby died 3 weeks later unexpectedly. Both babies were found to have congenital anomalies, although, in retrospect, insulin lispro was probably not the reason for the birth defects. A more recent multicenter, multinational study evaluating the possible effects on organogenesis in women using lispro during early pregnancy found no difference in the rate of congenital anomalies between lispro users and nondiabetic controls.³¹ Both lispro and aspart appear to be safe insulins to use for women with gestational diabetes as well as for those with preexisting type 1 diabetes.³² Currently no data exist on long-acting analogue safety in pregnancy.³³

Experimental studies suggest an increased risk of mitogenicity on tumor cell lines exposed to high doses of glargine. However, glargine use during the first trimester has been shown to have no adverse outcomes associated with fetal development.³⁴ This is important because so many pregnancies are unplanned, as patients continue using their basal insulin past the time of their first missed menstrual period. Only 1% to 5% of maternal endogenous insulin crosses the placental barrier and passes into the fetal circulation, as proven with both regular insulin and insulin lispro,^35,36 so the effects of glargine on adverse fetal development are likely to be minimal. Randomized clinical trials using glargine in pregnancy are not likely to be performed for ethical reasons. Most experts believe that the glycemic control that patients are able to maintain in pregnancy with glargine is superior to that with NPH. Anecdotally, patients also feel better on glargine. The continuation of glargine during pregnancy should be discussed in detail with patients who are unable or unwilling to use insulin pump therapy. Most patients will choose to maintain better glycemic control throughout pregnancy with glargine and be less concerned with the high affinity that glargine has on insulin-like growth factor binding sites, based on cell-line studies. Not enough information is available to recommend the use of insulin detemir during pregnancy at this time.

Exercising during Pregnancy

During physical activity, muscles consume glucose at a rate of 2 to 3 mg per kg of body weight per minute of exercise.³⁷ An exercise program should be initiated in an untrained individual only when glycemic levels are adequately controlled. The blood glucose target at the onset of exercise is 90 to 140 mg per dL. A meal should be consumed 1 to 3 hours before beginning an exercise session not lasting longer than 45 minutes. The prandial

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• Preterm labor

• Premature rupture of the membranes

• Incompetent cervix

• Persistent second- and third-trimester bleeding

• Intrauterine growth retardation

• Placenta previa beyond week 26

• Pregnancy-induced hypertension

Recommended modes of exercise include walking, stationary cycling, low-impact aerobics, and swimming. Each exercise session should begin with a 5- to 10-minute warm-up period, followed by an endurance phase, during which the heart rate should not exceed 140 beats per minute (bpm) [rate of perceived exertion (RPE), 12 to 13] (see Table 9-12).

A summary of the general rules for exercising with T1DM and pregnancy is found in Tables 8-6 and 8-7.

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Delivery

The timing of the final admission for delivery is dependent on the quality of glycemic control throughout pregnancy, the accuracy of dating information gathered during the prenatal visits, and the confirmation of fetal pulmonary maturity by amniocentesis. Delivery may be prompted by fetal distress. Spontaneous labor after 36 weeks may precipitate delivery. However, if spontaneous labor does not occur, labor is induced at 40 to 42 weeks in patients with normoglycemia.

The night before labor is induced, the usual dose of basal insulin is administered. Before active labor begins (3 contractions per 10 minutes, each lasting 60 seconds), insulin requirements are high. However, when active labor begins, insulin requirements drop to zero, whereas glucose requirements increase to 2.55 mg per kg per minute. Hourly blood glucose determinations help guide the administration of dextrose and insulin during labor and delivery, as described in Table 8-8.

Induction of Labor⁴⁰

The protocol for blood glucose stabilization before labor induction is as follows. Give the usual bedtime basal insulin the night before, and induce labor in the morning, if possible. Mix oxytocin in 50% isotonic saline, and do not

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Elective Cesarean Section⁴⁰

The protocol for blood glucose stabilization for an elective cesarean section is as follows. Give usual bedtime basal insulin the night before a planned cesarean section. Monitor fingerstick blood glucose hourly preoperatively and throughout the cesarean procedure. Maintain the blood glucose level at 80 to 100 mg per dL. Manage intravenous infusions and insulin as in spontaneous labor.

Premature Labor

Intravenous infusions and administration of insulin are managed as in spontaneous labor. Caution must be exercised when tocolytic agents are used to stop premature labor because these drugs may alter glucose homeostasis. Beta-mimetics may elevate serum glucose levels, whereas alcohol may cause hypoglycemia.

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Postpartum Management

Insulin requirements may decrease precipitously in the immediate postpartum period and remain considerably depressed for 48 to 96 hours. Any suspected postpartum infections should be cultured and aggressively treated. All women should have a repeated ophthalmologic examination. Women who had evidence of retinopathy need special attention and advice about follow-up plans for optimal eye care.

After Vaginal Delivery

Postpartum care should be routine, with a calculated diet based on 25 cal per kg per day of 20% protein, 40% carbohydrate, and 40% fat if the patient is not breastfeeding. Diet should be calculated on the basis of postpartum weight and should be divided into antepartum meal and snack proportions.

Basal-bolus insulin therapy may resume based on a predicted total daily dose of 0.6 U per kg. The blood glucose level is assessed before each meal, and after 1 hour.

After Cesarean Section

After cesarean section (or during no oral intake), insulin and glucose regimens are as follows (based on postpartum body weight):

• Give 1/6 total daily insulin as NPH every 8 hours while fasting or on clear- or full-liquid diet (equal to the 10:00 PM dose when eating). The glargine dose of 0.3 U per kg per day may be continued. Patients on detemir can resume at 0.3 U per kg per day, with 50% of the total dose given in the morning and 50% given 12 hours later.

• When a regular diet is not being consumed, the intravenous solutions should be given on the basis of blood glucose determinations every 2 to 4 hours, as outlined for spontaneous labor.

• When a regular diet is being ingested, calculate insulin based on postpartum body weight at 0.6 U per kg per day if the patient is not breastfeeding. Basal-bolus insulin therapy may be initiated with long- and short-acting insulin analogues. Increase insulin as needed to maintain normoglycemia. Half (50%) of the total daily dose is provided as basal insulin, and 50% is given as preprandial bolus insulin.

Insulin and Medical Nutrition for Nursing Mothers⁴¹

The caloric requirement for a nursing mother is approximately 27 kcal per kg per 24 hours.⁴¹ These calories should be divided as usual; however, the feeding routine of each infant will directly affect the mother's feeding schedule. Specifically, if the infant consumes a majority of calories at bedtime or in the middle of the night, the mother must also consume her calories then.

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Management of Diabetes in Children and Adolescents

Type 2 Diabetes

Case 2

Marisol, age 14, is reluctantly brought to the family doctor by her concerned mother to have her vaginal discharge evaluated. Marisol denies that she is now or ever has been sexually active but does have regular periods, which began 10 months ago. Her mother has T2DM, and both parents are Hispanic. Her physical examination is remarkable primarily for her size. She is 5 feet tall and weighs 247 lb. Her blood pressure is 140 per 94, and her random blood glucose level is 294 mg per dL. Marisol has evidence of acanthosis nigricans in both axillae (see Fig. 3-9). Her point-of-service A1C test is 9.2 %. Her urinalysis is negative for ketones, and the vaginal discharge is consistent with vaginal candidiasis.

Marisol most likely has T2DM. She has no evidence of ketosis, which, if present, would suggest a state of absolute insulin deficiency. She has acanthosis nigricans (suggestive of severe insulin resistance), is obese and hypertensive, has a family history of T2DM, and is Hispanic. Although the diagnosis may be clear, the management of T2DM in children and adolescents is controversial. Treatment options for Marisol are discussed later.

No longer considered to be a condition of primarily adult onset, T2DM has become increasingly common among children aged 6 to 11 years and adolescents aged 12 to 19 years. Although no definitive large-scale reporting of incidence within these age groups has occurred, a recent epidemiologic review⁴² led to the suggestion that as many as 8% to 45% of new-onset pediatric diabetes cases in the United States may be type 2. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)⁴³ reported 206,000 cases of diabetes among those younger than 20 years in the United States, giving an estimated prevalence of 0.25%. As in adults, many childhood cases go unrecognized, resulting in the possibility of a substantial number of children and adolescents with undiagnosed T2DM.

The increase in T2DM among children and adolescents has emerged in parallel with an alarming increase in the number of young people who have become overweight or obese. Along with family history, obesity stands out as a prominent risk factor for the development of T2DM. Over the past 20 years, the prevalence of childhood and adolescent obesity has doubled, and without increased measures for prevention, these numbers will likely continue to increase. Although children and adolescents representing all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups have been affected by this trend, Native Americans, Hispanics, and African Americans have become particularly susceptible to the epidemic of obesity.⁴⁴ T2DM is especially on the rise within these groups, and the prevalence

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A troubling concern is that in children with T2DM, microvascular and macrovascular complications similar to those in adults will develop, only at a much younger age and sooner after their initial diagnosis is made when compared with adults. This may add a tremendous burden to healthcare costs in the future. In a study from Canada, subjects in whom T2DM developed as children were resurveyed as young adults between 18 and 33 years of age. Of the 51 subjects, 9% had died, 6% were on dialysis, 1 had a toe amputation, and 1 was blind.⁴⁵

The ADA criteria for diagnosis of diabetes are the same for children, adolescents, and adults. Classification of the type of diabetes is generally more difficult than establishing a diagnosis of diabetes. In many cases, classification is based on observation of clinical features and course, or it may be accomplished with the aid of data from additional testing (e.g., C-peptide test, detection of autoantibodies, and determination of fasting insulin level; see Table 8-9). These tests may not be practical or available in the primary care environment. The presence of DKA is a classic manifestation of T1DM but may also occur in patients initially with new-onset T2DM.⁴⁶ Such patients may be initially seen in DKA, have elevated C-peptide levels, and an absence of islet cell antibodies (ICAs) or glutamic acid decarboxylase (anti-GAD) antibodies. After the initial metabolic disturbance is corrected, these patients do not require insulin. In an ideal setting, T1DM should be confirmed by measuring autoantibodies, whereas T2DM is diagnosed with a fasting C-peptide, which, when elevated, is suggestive of insulin resistance. However, C-peptide levels have not been standardized and often the test is not affordable.

The pathogenesis of T2DM in children and adolescents is multifactorial and includes the following:

• Genetic (defects affecting multiple genes, some caused by mutations)⁴⁷

• Obesity⁴⁸

• Physical inactivity⁴⁹

• Insulin resistance, compensatory hyperinsulinemia, and subsequent beta-cell failure, leading to clinical expression of T2DM⁵⁰

• Acanthosis nigricans, as a marker of insulin resistance, occurs in 60% to 90% of children with T2DM,⁵¹ especially in African Americans, Hispanics, and some Native Americans.

• Polycystic ovary syndrome is associated with insulin resistance co-expressed with hyperinsulinemia.⁵²

• Children with either low birth weight (less than 2.5 kg) or high birth weight (more than 4 kg), especially those with low birth weight who gain weight rapidly after puberty⁵³

• Mothers with GDM have an 8 times greater chance of having T2DM develop in a child between ages 10 and 16, when compared with age-matched controls whose mothers had normoglycemia during pregnancy.⁵⁴

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  TABLE 8-9 Differentiation of Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes in Children and Adolescents

  Type 1 Diabetes (T1DM) Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM) Onset Acute, symptomatic Slow, often asymptomatic Clinical picture Weight loss Polyuria Polydipsia Altered consciousness Polyphagia Fatigue Visual changes Obesity Strong family history of T2DM Family history of coronary artery disease common High prevalence in African Americans, Native Americans, Asians, Pacific Islanders, and Alaska Natives Acanthosis nigricans suggests insulin resistance. Polycystic ovary syndrome Maternal history of GDM Personal history of low (<2 kg) or high (>4 kg) birth weight Rapid weight gain during childhood Inactive lifestyle Ketosis Almost always present May be present C-peptide Negative Fasting C-peptide levels elevated, suggestive of insulin resistance. (However, standardization of fasting C-peptide levels in children has not been done.) Antibodies for autoimmune disease ICA+ Anti-GAD+ ICA 512+ Negative antibody studies Pathophysiology Autoimmune disorder Insulin resistance, decreased insulin sensitivity similar to that in adult T2DM Treatment Insulin (basal/bolus) Insulin-pump therapy Screen and treat comorbidities Insulin if A1C >11 % (basal + orals, basal alone, mixed dose analogue, basal/bolus, inhaled insulin?) Oral agents (metformin) Lifestyle intervention Monitor and treat comorbidities (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, proteinuria, coronary artery disease) ICA, islet cell antibody; GAD, glutamic acid decarboxylase; GDM, gestational diabetes mellitus; T2DM, type 2 diabetes mellitus. Adapted with permission from Alberti G, Zimmet P, Shaw J, et al, for the Consensus Workshop Group. Type 2 diabetes in the young: the evolving epidemic: The International Diabetes Federation Consensus Workshop. Diabetes Care. 2004;27:1798 1811.

• Forty-five percent to 80% of children with T2DM have at least one parent with diabetes, and 74% to 100% have a first- or second-degree relative with T2DM.⁵⁴ A strong correlation with a family history of coronary artery disease also is common.⁵⁵

The primary goals of management for children and adolescents with T2DM include

• Stabilization of any acute metabolic deficiencies while improving long-term glycemic control

• Targeting and maintaining an A1C of 7% or less⁵⁶

• Preventing microvascular and macrovascular disease

• Educating patients and family members on behavioral interventions and lifestyle changes that must be incorporated into one's daily routine

• Reinforcing and stabilizing the psychological well-being of the adolescent patient

Differences of opinion exist as to how to manage children with T2DM. Pharmacotherapy must almost always be used in partnership with lifestyle and behavioral intervention to achieve the acceptable glycemic and metabolic targets. In the United States, approximately 50% of young patients with T2DM receive oral agents, primarily metformin, and 50% are placed on insulin.⁵⁶ Although there is no reason to believe the oral agents will work differently in children than in adults, there is uncertainty about the long-term implications of pharmacotherapy in this age group.

A simplified approach using oral agents as monotherapy or in combination may allow patients time to adjust psychologically to their new diagnosis. However, a more rapid intensification with exogenous insulin therapy would certainly be appropriate, especially if the patient were symptomatic and had an A1C greater than 10%. Once the metabolic status is corrected by using intensive therapy, a more simplified treatment can be used for maintenance control of the hyperglycemia. A patient such as Marisol (Case 2) would most likely be unable to achieve an A1C less than 7% with oral agents alone. Therefore, one might consider using a once-daily basal insulin + metformin as her initial treatment. Using a twice-daily premixed insulin analogue in a treat-to-target protocol (see Chapter 5) might also help restore her metabolic status to target quickly. The insulin can be given before breakfast and at dinner. Aggressive initial management of T2DM might also be more readily acceptable to patients in whom bad habits and routines may develop months or years after the diagnosis is made.

Metformin has been shown to be safe and effective in pediatric use,⁵⁷ although as monotherapy in children and adolescents with T2DM, combination therapy may be necessary to provide adequate glycemic control over an extended period.⁵⁸

The comorbidities associated with T2DM in children and adolescents must be monitored and treated as shown in Table 8-10. One must keep in mind that lifestyle intervention is always in the forefront of diabetes management in children with T2DM.

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Type 1 Diabetes

The diagnosis of T1DM in children is usually straightforward and requires little or no specialized testing (Table 8-10). Most children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes are first seen with a several-week history of polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia, and weight loss, with hyperglycemia, glycosuria, ketonemia, and ketonuria. The criteria for diagnosing T1DM in children are similar

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Although differentiating T1DM from T2DM at first may be difficult, any child who is initially seen with severe fasting hyperglycemia, metabolic derangements, and ketonemia will require insulin therapy to reverse the metabolic abnormalities. Approximately 30% of children with newly diagnosed T1DM are ill with DKA.⁴⁰ Many require treatment in an intensive care unit. Most of the other 70% are not acutely ill and do not require hospitalization for medical management unless facilities for prolonged outpatient care and self-management education are not available. The ADA recommends that every child newly diagnosed with T1DM be evaluated by a diabetes team (consisting of a pediatric endocrinologist, a nurse educator, a dietitian, and a mental health professional) qualified to provide up-to-date pediatric-specific education and support.⁵⁹

Proper diabetes education for a child and family of a child with T1DM is intensive, complex, and age specific. Educators with a set of skills including good communication, compassion, sensitivity, spontaneity, humor, and in-depth knowledge of childhood diabetes establish the foundation of the diabetes support network. The substantial educational material (necessary for basic management, often referred to as survival skills ) must be conveyed to a family of a child with T1DM immediately after the initial diagnosis. The family is likely to be adjusting to the shock and perhaps anger or grief over the diabetes diagnosis and may not be able to focus on learning new material. The PCP may assist by becoming a source of continued medical support for the patient and the family. Insist that the patient always wear a form of identification, especially when an adolescent with diabetes begins to drive. Emphasis should always be placed on having the family join the ADA and becoming active participants in their local chapter activities.

Preconception planning should begin with the PCP. Making certain that patients' routine vaccinations are up to date is also within the responsibilities of primary care. Occasionally, family physicians may need to discuss treatment plans with school nurses and even help design updated emergency protocols for entire school districts for patients with T1DM. Consider becoming an advocate for patients with diabetes who wish to participate in extracurricular activities. PCPs can also provide basic nutritional education for school-age children, encouraging them to make healthful food and drink choices while increasing their activity levels. Adolescent girls should be observed for

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Enthusiasm for embracing the target achieved by the intensively treated adult cohort of the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) is tempered by the recent results of Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications (EDIC),⁶⁰ the follow-up study of DCCT participants. Of the DCCT trial participants, 95% participated in EDIC; of the adolescent cohort, 90% participated. After the closeout of the DCCT, most EDIC participants were converted to or continued on intensified diabetes management (95% of the prior intensive cohort and 80% of the prior conventional cohort). This intensified management was provided in a nontrial setting, with visits every 3 months and contact with the diabetes care team initiated by the patient, as deemed necessary. The EDIC study showed an increase in A1C levels in those adolescents in the intensive treatment group (from 8.1% to 8.4%) and a decrease in those in the conventional group (from 9.8% to 8.5%) after the end of the study. These data suggest that although intensification of treatment outside of a clinical trial can decrease A1C significantly, achieving an A1C consistently less than 8% outside of a clinical trial may be difficult in the adolescent population.

Despite the difficulty of achieving A1C values close to 7%, results from the EDIC also suggest that intensive diabetes management has significant and long-lasting health benefits. The adolescents in the intensive-treatment cohort of the DCCT had little further progression to proliferative retinopathy 4 years after the DCCT, whereas the previously conventionally treated group (A1C 9.8% at the end of the DCCT) had progression in an additional 15% of participants 4 years after close of the DCCT, despite their more than 1% decline in A1C (from a mean of 9.8% to 8.5%). Data from the EDIC study suggest that 4 to 7 years of intensified management may have prolonged beneficial effects (Fig. 8-3). Conversely, 4 to 6 years of suboptimal diabetes control, as frequently seen during adolescence, may have lasting adverse effects on the risk of micro- and macrovascular disease. Thus, one should attempt to optimize diabetes treatment as early as possible once the diagnosis is made.

In selecting glycemic goals, the difficulty in achieving an optimal A1C must be balanced against the disadvantages of targeting a higher (although more achievable) goal that may not promote optimal long-term health outcomes. In addition, the benefits of improved glycemic control in children must be balanced with careful consideration of the child's unique vulnerability to hypoglycemia. To address these unique needs of the developing child, age-specific glycemic goals are presented for children younger than 6 years, 6 to 12 years of age (prepubertal), and 13 years of age (or pubertal) to adulthood in Table 8-11.

As adolescents approach adulthood, the glycemic standards should approach those for adults. The adult standards of glycemic control are virtually

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Use of Insulin in Type 1 Diabetes

Although no one established formula exists for determining a child's insulin requirement, dosing is usually based on body weight, age, and pubertal status. Children newly diagnosed with T1DM require an initial total daily dose of approximately 0.5 to 1.0 U per kg. The small insulin needs of infants and toddlers may require diluted insulin (U-40 or U-50 insulin) to allow more precise dosing and measurement of insulin in less than 1-U increments. Diluents are available for specific types of insulins from the manufacturers. Insulin can be diluted either at a pharmacy or at home once parental training has been completed. Insulin pens that deliver insulin in 0.5-U increments also are available (NovoPen Junior-Novo Nordisk: http://www.insulindevice.com/).

Newly diagnosed children with T1DM frequently enter into a honeymoon phase as their own beta-cell insulin production is restored. Data from the DCCT indicate that some subjects with T1DM continue to have residual C-peptide, even 5 years after diagnosis.⁶¹ During this phase of diabetes, insulin requirements may be well below the initial dose of 0.5 to 1.0 U per kg per day needed to maintain blood glucose targets. Minute doses of insulin should be used by patients who are honeymooning, in hope of prolonging this initial phase of new-onset type 1 diabetes. A twice-daily fixed-dose mixed-analogue insulin may also be used at this time. In general, intensive physiologic therapy in the form of a basal-bolus regimen (utilizing either MDIs or insulin pump therapy) should be prescribed to children and adolescents with T1DM. Glargine and detemir insulin are both Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved for use in patients ages 6 and older. Regular insulin or a short-acting insulin analogue is used before meals, with the dose based on the preprandial glucose level as well as the amount of carbohydrates consumed during the meal. In small children, carbohydrate counting can be performed by the adult after the child finishes eating, after which the appropriate dose of insulin is determined and injected. Chapters 5 and 6 provide specific insulin protocols for patients who are placed on either MDIs or continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) therapy. Table 8-12 lists age-specific diabetes self-management skills that should be emphasized for patients and families living with T1DM.

Medical Nutrition Therapy

The most difficult and most challenging aspect of diabetes management in T1DM for children involves nutritional therapy. Consultation with a registered dietician trained in pediatric nutrition and diabetes is strongly encouraged. Individualized meal plans should be designed to accommodate food preferences, cultural influences, physical activity patterns, and family meal schedules. Most important, patients and families must learn to anticipate the effect that different foods will have on glycemic excursions. For example, patients receiving insulin-pump therapy may need to use an extended-wave bolus while eating ice cream, but a dual-wave bolus for a regularly scheduled meal. Pizza, which is laden with fat and carbohydrates, will require a

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Of critical importance is reminding adolescents that alcohol plus insulin without the use of food can result in severe hypoglycemia. Those patients who insist on drinking alcohol should always dose insulin and consume carbohydrates at the same time. Although using injections in front of peers may not be cool, point out that the patient should feel very proud of his or her efforts to manage diabetes, and do not hesitate to offer some words of encouragement.

How many of your buddies are checking their blood sugars 5 times a day and injecting insulin 4 times a day? How many of your friends can count carbs? No one. Only you. Diabetes is a bummer, but give yourself credit for what you are able to do. Your friends have a normally functioning pancreas. You don't, so you are doing everything by hand. I'm very proud of you and so are your parents. Keep up the good work, and let me know if you ever have any questions or concerns.

At the time of the initial diagnosis of T1DM, many patients appear in a malnourished and dehydrated state. Once insulin therapy is initiated, weight

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Once the growth spurt is over, usually around 12 to 13 years of age in girls and 15 to 18 years of age in boys, caloric needs and insulin requirement will decrease. This is particularly true in girls, because rapid growth ceases soon after the onset of menses. In boys, the growth spurt starts later than that in girls and ceases later and more slowly.

Eating Disorders in Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes

Although the DCCT provided indisputable evidence linking intensive diabetes control to a reduced incidence of microvascular complications, metabolic control during adolescence is very difficult to achieve. The many factors responsible for deterioration of glycemic control during adolescence include increasing insulin resistance associated with onset of puberty, the psychological challenges associated with a perception of increased self-independence favoring nonadherence, and eating disorders.

The link between eating disorders, poor metabolic control, recurrent DKA, premature development of diabetes-related complications, and earlier-than-expected mortality in adolescent girls and young adult women with T1DM was initially reported in 1980.^62,63 Subsequent research has provided the following evidence-based conclusions regarding eating disorders and T1DM:

• All eating disorders are twice as common in adolescent girls with T1DM as in their nondiabetic peers.⁶⁴

• Eating disorders are associated with higher A1C levels and earlier-than-expected complications, particularly retinopathy.⁶⁵

• Adolescent girls with T1DM omit insulin to achieve weight control or weight loss.^64,66

• Treatment interventions for eating disorders in adolescents with T1DM have not been highly successful.⁶⁷

On the basis of criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV), the prevalence of eating disorders is approximately 10% of all adolescent girls with T1DM⁶⁴ or twice as common as in adolescent girls without diabetes. The diagnosis of T1DM during adolescence is typically associated with a period of poor metabolic control and subsequent weight loss. Although the patient may be highly symptomatic, the weight reduction, which may occur rapidly, is all too often perceived as being highly desirable.

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Patients with poor family relationships defined by impaired communication, parental mistrust, feelings of anger or hopelessness within the home environment have an increased likelihood of developing an eating disorder and having a more treatment-resistant illness.⁶⁹ In particular, a communication disconnect between the adolescent girl patient and her mother fuels the efforts of the patient to gain control of her life through weight manipulation.⁷⁰

Metabolic control and A1C levels tend to deteriorate during adolescence, more so in girls than in boys, coinciding with the period of highest risk for eating disorders, from mid to older adolescence into young adulthood.⁷⁰

Short-term complications related to eating disorders include recurrent episodes of DKA, hypoglycemia (due to food restriction after the administration of insulin), and frequent hospitalizations. Persistence of eating disorders can cause growth impairment, delay in pubertal development, amenorrhea, and osteoporosis.⁷⁰

Managing patients with eating disorders requires specialized care. Therapists must find a balance between promoting behavioral change and accepting the adolescents' difficulties in achieving dietary self-regulation. Treatment strategies that should be considered include the following:

• Maintain food diaries, blood glucose logs, insulin dosing logs, and insulin dose omission records. Although many patients object to keeping these records because they fear the connection between hyperglycemia and complications, self-monitoring does increase one's awareness of the diabetes and provides a connection between various behaviors.

• Some insulin is better than none. Consider changing the patient from multiple daily injections of insulin to twice-daily mixed insulin analogues. Inhaled insulin, as a novel therapy, may also be considered for prandial administration.

• Teach appropriate management of hypoglycemia. Patients may view an episode of hypoglycemia as an opportunity to binge eat. This will cause weight gain. Focus on prevention of hypoglycemia with the use of oral glucose tablets when appropriate.

• Prepare patients for the possibility of weight gain with the use of insulin. Insulin is a growth hormone and will result in weight gain in most patients.

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  Weight can be managed successfully by learning basic dietary and behavioral principles.

• Address the fact that the strong emotional aspects of diabetes self-management can be managed without resorting to binge eating or purging. Patients can accept the feelings of imperfection without attempting to diminish them through weight restriction.

• Family support and interpersonal relationships must be addressed. Patients must be provided with skills to manage these relationships on a long-term basis. Family-based interventions have a high rate of success.⁷⁰

Sick Days

Illness can be a very stressful time for a child with diabetes and for his or her family. Illness will almost always increase the blood glucose levels, even as nutritional intake is decreased. Cases of gastroenteritis associated with minimal nutritional supplementation may result in hypoglycemia. Many parents and teens will omit insulin during illness when intake is decreased. In most instances, this is a mistake and may result in DKA.

During illness, blood glucose levels and urine ketones should be monitored frequently, often hourly, and extra insulin administered to prevent DKA. Many methods exist for supplementing insulin during illness.

• Supplemental doses of rapid-acting insulin equal to 10% to 20% of the daily insulin dose may be given as an extra dose as needed to clear the ketones or control the blood glucose levels.

• Whatever methods are used to calculate supplemental doses of insulin, fluid and electrolyte balance must be maintained and calories given in the form of simple sugar or glucose.

• Guidelines for appropriate rehydration in the child's specific age group should be followed. If dehydration occurs, insulin is not absorbed well, and no amount of subcutaneous or even intramuscularly administered insulin may be sufficient to correct the problems.

Managing Glycemic Control in Children and Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes during Exercise

Exercise provides many healthy benefits for children with T1DM and should be encouraged. However, up to 10% to 20% of all hypoglycemia in children and adolescents will occur in relation to a period of increased physical activity.⁷¹ Therefore, blood glucose levels should be monitored before and up to 6 hours after the completion of any exercise session until glycemic patterns can be clearly identified. Strenuous exercise with a blood glucose level less than 100 mg per dL should be preceded by a 15-g carbohydrate snack. Any exercise lasting longer than 1 hour should necessitate blood glucose testing every 30 minutes. Pre-exercise insulin-dose adjustments and carbohydrate ingestion may be necessary during the 30 to 60 minutes of daily exercise recommended by the CDC.

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Children should be advised never to swim unsupervised and always to wear their diabetes ID bracelet during exercise. Obese children with T1DM should be encouraged to increase their level of physical activity. Exercising (riding a bike, walking to school) may be easier for many children than reducing their caloric intake.

The other comorbidities associated with T1DM in children and adolescents, including autoimmune hypothyroidism, celiac disease, microalbuminuria, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and retinopathy, must all be screened for and managed. Table 8-13 summarizes the suggested protocols for total metabolic management of children with T1DM.

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Continuous Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion (Insulin Pump) Therapy in Children and Adolescents

Insulin pump therapy is a safe and effective treatment strategy for children of all ages with T1DM.⁷² In an attempt to limit hypoglycemia by making insulin absorption more physiologic, 9 patients ranging from age 1.7 to 6.1 years used CSII for 1 year.⁷³ One concern was a possible increase in occurrence of DKA should the infusion set become disconnected. When compared with 10 aged-matched controls using MDIs, their A1C values at the conclusion of the trial were identical, as were the recorded frequencies of hypoglycemia, dosages of insulin, and quality of life. No DKA occurred in the pump users, and the patients did not inappropriately disconnect their infusion sets. The authors concluded that CSII can be used safely in very young children, provided the family is given appropriate instructions and backup.

A study of 95 children and adolescents placed on insulin pump therapy, ranging in age from 4 to 18, showed improvement in A1C levels (8.1% to 7.7%) and had fewer episodes of DKA and fewer emergency department visits compared with pre-pump data. Only 2 of the 95 children discontinued their pumps, preferring to return to MDIs. Thus, insulin pump therapy is safe and advantageous in all patients with diabetes, including children, adolescents, and pregnant women.⁷⁴

The use of continuous glucose sensors, alone or as a component of the sensor-augmented insulin pump, can help to improve A1C levels, minimize hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic excursions, and fine-tune one's overall glycemic control.⁷⁵ A comprehensive approach to using insulin pumps in a primary care practice can be found in Chapter 6.

Summary

PCPs are likely to become directly involved with the care of many types of patients with diabetes, including children, adolescents, and women with diabetes who either plan a pregnancy or successfully become pregnant. Although specialty consultation is necessary for these patients, the PCP often provides a strong cornerstone of therapy revolving around complication surveillance, disease prevention, and counseling. A patient with a history of gestational diabetes is at high risk for diabetes developing in the future. Physicians should also ask the patient about the weight of her baby at birth at the time of her GDM pregnancy. A low birth weight (<2.5 kg) or a weight more than 4 kg places the child at high risk of metabolic syndrome developing as an adolescent. Therefore, these children should be appropriately screened for metabolic syndrome and managed with appropriate behavioral and lifestyle interventions at an early age.

One of the best ways primary care doctors can efficiently assist in the management of their diabetes patients is by promoting healthful lifestyle choices, such as exercise, to our young children who might be at risk for T2DM developing. Family physicians are in a unique position of knowing a

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One must always attempt to attain the individualized glycemic and metabolic targets established for patients with T1DM and T2DM, especially those who are planning to become pregnant or who are successful in becoming pregnant. Children with diabetes have glycemic goals that are different from those of adults. We must be vigilant in protecting them against hypoglycemia while doing our best to prescribe a regimen that offers the safest and most efficient route towards attaining the ideal A1C. Adolescent patients present unique challenges to all physicians. PCPs should be vigilant in identifying patients suspected of having eating disorders, as failure to do so could lead to frequent hospitalizations and premature retinopathy.

Managing diabetes is not easy. If hypoglycemia never occurred, patients would not need to seek our expertise on medication use, diet, exercise, pregnancy, or even home blood glucose monitoring. As professionals, we can make a difference in the lives of our patients. They are counting on us to guide them through this maze of uncertainty and fear. We must also keep a watchful eye on our young female patients with T1DM, who have a high incidence of eating disorders associated with frequent hospitalizations, DKA, and premature retinopathy. Failure to recognize this pathology may lead to devastating psychological and physiological consequences.

Around every corner of diabetes supervision and education lies another potential short- or long-term complication. PCPs have the unique ability to see around these dangerous corners and lead our patients into a safe haven of living complication-free lives.

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