Associations between Disordered Eating Behaviors and HbA_1c in Young People with Type 1 Diabetes: A Systematic Review...

In type 1 diabetes, disordered eating behaviors (DEB) can adversely impact HbA_1c. Diabetes-adapted DEB questionnaires assess intentional insulin omission, whereas generic questionnaires do not. Given the number of studies describing DEB-HbA_1c associations published over the past decade, an updated systematic review is warranted.

The study aimed to examine the associations between DEBs assessed by generic and diabetes- adapted questionnaires (and subscales) and HbA_1c among young people (<29 years) with type 1 diabetes.

A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, PsycInfo, and CINAHL databases. Observational studies examining associations between DEB as assessed by questionnaires and HbA_1c were included. Publication information, DEB and HbA_1c characteristics, and DEBHbA_1c associations were extracted. Hedges' g was calculated for mean HbA_1c differences between groups with and without DEB.

The systematic search yielded 733 reports, of which 39 reports representing 35 unique studies met the inclusion criteria. Nineteen studies assessing DEB by diabetes-adapted questionnaires (n=5,795) and seven using generic questionnaires (n=2,162) provided data for meta-analysis. For diabetes-adapted questionnaires, DEB was associated with higher HbA_1c (g=0.62 CI=0.52; 0.73) with a similar effect size when restricted to validated questionnaires (g=0.61; CI=0.50; 0.73). DEB was not associated with HbA_1c for generic questionnaires (g=0.19; CI=-0.17; 0.55), but significantly associated with higher HbA_1c for validated generic questionnaires (g=0.32; 95% CI=0.16-0.48). Participant and HbA_1c collection characteristics were often inadequately described.

Diabetes-adapted DEB questionnaires should be used in youth with type 1 diabetes because they capture intentional insulin omission and are more strongly associated with HbA_1c than generic DEB questionnaires.