Impact of the Transition Council in Type 1 Diabetes: Bridging the Gap to Adult Care

This retrospective study evaluates the impact of the transition council on clinic attendance, glycaemic control and complications in type 1 diabetes.

Since 2015, monthly multidisciplinary transition meetings (transition councils) have been held involving paediatric and adult endocrinology departments at Bursa Uludag University Hospital, Turkey. The study retrospectively compared outcomes of type 1 diabetes patients who transitioned to adult care via the council versus standard transition. A total of 180 patients (90 in each group) aged at transition 18-21 years (58.9% male) were included.

Within 6 months post-transition, 84.9% of council patients (exposed group) and 54.1% of the standard care group attended at least one visit (p < 0.001). Regular follow-up during the first year was significantly higher in the exposed group (58.1% vs. 29.7%, p < 0.001); rates were similar between groups in subsequent years. HbA1c levels increased significantly 1 year after transition in the standard care group (p = 0.025), while the exposed group remained stable (p = 0.719). No significant differences were observed in hospitalisation or diabetic ketoacidosis.

This transition model may improve regular follow-up rates during the challenging first year of transition and help prevent additional deterioration in glycaemic control compared to standard care. Prospective randomised trials could strengthen these findings.