title: Site of initial diabetes education does not affect metabolic outcomes in children with T1DM.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the difference in metabolic outcomes at 1 and 2 yr post type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) diagnosis in children depending on the site of initial diabetes education: inpatient, vs. outpatient, vs. mixed locations.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review was performed for all patients with new onset antibody positive T1DM, aged 1-18 yr old, diagnosed in 2004-2009, and followed for at least 1 yr in a diabetes program at a tertiary academic health care center. Patients were divided into three groups based on the site of initial diabetes education: inpatient, outpatient, and mixed locations. The primary outcome was A1c at 1 and 2 yr.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We enrolled 238 children (133 boys), mean (± SD) age 9.9 (± 4.1). A1c levels did not differ among inpatient, outpatient, and mixed location groups at 1 and 2 yr post diagnosis (p = 0.85 and p = 0.69, respectively) and the long-acting insulin doses were similar at 1 and 2 yr (p = 0.18 and p = 0.15, respectively). There was no difference in the number of acute diabetes complications between the groups. At 1 yr, 21.8% of outpatient-educated children were on insulin pump therapy in contrast to 14.7% of inpatient and 2.7% of mixed educated groups (p = 0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Families of children with new onset T1DM can be successfully and safely educated in a clinic setting. An 'education' admission for a medically stable patient is not necessary most of the time, however, clinical judgment and careful assessment of the family's coping and learning capabilities are important when determining the site of education.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Baystate Children's Hospital/Tufts University, Springfield, MA, 01199, USA.
authors.forename: Ksenia N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Tonyushkina
authors.forename: Paul F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Visintainer
authors.forename: Christopher F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Jasinski
authors.forename: Thomas L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Wadzinski
authors.forename: Holley F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Allen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007297:Inpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human
keywords: blood glucose self-monitoring; children; outpatient care; patient education; type 1 diabetes mellitus