Publication on frequency and care of type 1 diabetes in children and adolescents

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease that destroys the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas and often occurs in childhood and adolescence. Treatment with insulin is necessary to lower the blood sugar level. T1D can lead to acute metabolic disorders and serious secondary diseases. The aim of this article is to present the incidence and prevalence of T1D in children and adolescents in Germany as well as selected indicators of the quality of care for the year 2020 in the context of temporal development and regional socioeconomic differences.

The study is based on data from the “Diabetes-Patienten-Verlaufsdokumentation” (DPV). In 2020, about 4,000 children and adolescents were newly diagnosed with T1D.The prevalence was estimated at 235.5 per 100,000 persons. The median long-term blood glucose value HbA1c in 2020 was 7.5%, slightly above the German guidelines' value of < 7.5%. At least one hospitalised ketoacidosis occurred in 3.4% of the treated children and adolescents with T1D in 2020, more frequently in regions with very high socioeconomic deprivation.
The proportion of severe hypoglycaemia in children and adolescents with T1D was 3.0 % in 2020. Between 2014 and 2020, the incidence, prevalence and HbA1c level hardly changed. In the same period, the incidence of the acute complications ketoacidosis and severe hypoglycaemia decreased. The results of the study indicate an improvement in care over time, but also show that regional socioeconomic inequalities persist.

The full article entitled Incidence, prevalence and care of T1D in children and adolescents in Germany: Time trends and regional socioeconomic situation can be found here.