Practical management of type 1 diabetes mellitus in adolescent patients: challenges and goals

Type 1 diabetes mellitus in adolescents presents diagnostic and management challenges. Diagnostically, the challenge is to distinguish type 1 from type 2 diabetes. A thin adolescent in diabetic ketoacidosis is easily recognized as having type 1 diabetes. However, since obesity does not negate the presence of type 1 diabetes, it is appropriate to measure diabetes-related antibody, C-peptide, and insulin levels in individuals who are thought to have type 2 diabetes to ensure that they do not have type 1 or a mixed type of diabetes. The goals for the management of type 1 diabetes in adolescents are to (i) prevent diabetic ketoacidosis; (ii) prevent severe hypoglycemia; (iii) maintain normal growth and development; and (iv) prevent long-term diabetic complications. To prevent diabetic ketoacidosis, patients must take their insulin appropriately. To ensure that this happens, increased parental supervision, psychological counseling, or placement in a different home environment may be necessary. All patients must be taught to appropriately manage sick days and test their urine for ketones when hyperglycemia is present. Prevention of severe hypoglycemia involves ensuring that the patient understands the symptoms of hypoglycemia and knows to test and treat it when the signs are present. Patients and families also need to know how to adjust insulin doses to prevent hypoglycemia and how to manage exercise appropriately. Patients with hypoglycemic unawareness need to meticulously avoid hypoglycemia. To maintain normal growth and development, adolescents with type 1 diabetes must have the appropriate tools to effectively match their meals to their lifestyle and to avoid the increased weight gain associated with improved glycemic control without intentionally manipulating their insulin dose to lose weight. The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial demonstrated that improved glycemic control decreased the risk of long-term diabetic complications. The goals of treatment in this study should be the goals for all adolescents with type 1 diabetes. To reach these goals, home glucose monitoring is critical. Patients need to know how to adjust insulin to maintain glucose levels in the range of 70-120 mg/dL (3.9-6.7 mmol/L) before meals. Insulin regimens need to be individually tailored to meet each patient's needs. Patients should be followed in a clinic using a multidisciplinary team approach at least every 3 months. Glycosylated hemoglobin should be measured at each visit. Regular eye exams, blood pressure monitoring, and urinary microalbumin measurements are critical. In this manner, the goals of management of type 1 diabetes in adolescents can be met.