Transition to Adult Care for Youth with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: Structured Support Aids for Adolescents and Young Patients in Morioka Area, Japan

摘要

In clinical practice for adolescents and young adults with childhood onset diseases, transitional medicine represents an important element. Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) is a disease that requires patients, their families, and health care professionals involved to face a wide range of problems, including early development of complications, decreased quality of life, socioeconomic problems, and developmental psychological problems. The transition to adult health care is often not smoothly carried out for young patients with this disease. In this paper, first, we discuss problems in this area, including differences between paediatric and adult clinical settings for diabetes care, insufficient preparation for transition, and dissatisfaction of patients and families during transition. Next, we propose a clinical trial, providing a seamless transitional process to the young patients with T1DM at a joint clinic operated by both pediatricians and physicians, trying to ascertain the changes in psychological burden on the patients, quality of life due to transition, self-care behaviors, and blood glucose control during the transition.