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Aims/hypothesis: Diabetes diagnosed at <6 months of age is usually monogenic. However, 10–15% of affected infants do not have a pathogenic variant in one of the 26 known neonatal diabetes genes. We characterised infants diagnosed at <6 months of age without a pathogenic variant to assess whether polygenic type 1 diabetes could arise at early ages. Methods: We studied 166 infants diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at <6 months of age in whom pathogenic variants in all 26 known genes had been excluded and compared them with infants with monogenic neonatal diabetes (n = 164) or children with type 1 diabetes diagnosed at 6–24 months of age (n = 152). We assessed the type 1 diabetes genetic risk score (T1D-GRS), islet autoantibodies, C-peptide and clinical features. Results: We found an excess of infants with high T1D-GRS: 38% (63/166) had a T1D-GRS >95th centile of healthy individuals, whereas 5% (8/166) would be expected if all were monogenic (p < 0.0001). Individuals with a high T1D-GRS had a similar rate of autoantibody positivity to that seen in individuals with type 1 diabetes diagnosed at 6–24 months of age (41% vs 58%, p = 0.2), and had markedly reduced C-peptide levels (median <3 pmol/l within 1 year of diagnosis), reflecting rapid loss of insulin secretion. These individuals also had reduced birthweights (median z score −0.89), which were lowest in those diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at <3 months of age (median z score −1.98). Conclusions/interpretation: We provide strong evidence that type 1 diabetes can present before the age of 6 months based on individuals with this extremely early-onset diabetes subtype having the classic features of childhood type 1 diabetes: high genetic risk, autoimmunity and rapid beta cell loss. The early-onset association with reduced birthweight raises the possibility that for some individuals there was reduced insulin secretion in utero. Comprehensive genetic testing for all neonatal diabetes genes remains essential for all individuals diagnosed with diabetes at <6 months of age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Monogenic diabetes is rare but is an important diagnosis in pediatric diabetes clinics. These patients are often not identified as this relies on the recognition of key clinical features by an alert clinician. Biomarkers (islet autoantibodies and C-peptide) can assist in the exclusion of patients with type 1 diabetes and allow systematic testing that does not rely on clinical recognition. Our study aimed to establish the prevalence of monogenic diabetes in U.K. pediatric clinics using a systematic approach of biomarker screening and targeted genetic testing.Research Design and Methods: We studied 808 patients (79.5% of the eligible population) <20 years of age with diabetes who were attending six pediatric clinics in South West England and Tayside, Scotland. Endogenous insulin production was measured using the urinary C-peptide creatinine ratio (UCPCR). C-peptide-positive patients (UCPCR ≥0.2 nmol/mmol) underwent islet autoantibody (GAD and IA2) testing, with patients who were autoantibody negative undergoing genetic testing for all 29 identified causes of monogenic diabetes.Results: A total of 2.5% of patients (20 of 808 patients) (95% CI 1.6-3.9%) had monogenic diabetes (8 GCK, 5 HNF1A, 4 HNF4A, 1 HNF1B, 1 ABCC8, 1 INSR). The majority (17 of 20 patients) were managed without insulin treatment. A similar proportion of the population had type 2 diabetes (3.3%, 27 of 808 patients).Conclusions: This large systematic study confirms a prevalence of 2.5% of patients with monogenic diabetes who were <20 years of age in six U.K. clinics. This figure suggests that ∼50% of the estimated 875 U.K. pediatric patients with monogenic diabetes have still not received a genetic diagnosis. This biomarker screening pathway is a practical approach that can be used to identify pediatric patients who are most appropriate for genetic testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Type 1 diabetes, perhaps more than any other chronic condition, demands self-management, upon which depend long-term outcomes. Nearly all young people turn to apps, websites and social media as the natural first solution to searches for information or to connect with others. Clinicians need to understand the Internet and all the other sources of information that patients may use in constructing their understanding of, and in self-managing, their condition. DSNs now generally work in partnership with patients, and accept that they may learn much from them. This article describes how young people with diabetes have been using apps and the Internet in an effort to help DSNs better engage with this online way of life, and to suggest ways in which they can better stay informed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Questionnaires to assess expectations of future health were administered to 382 patients with diabetes immediately before and after attending an annual check-up. When considering their future health status and interpreting feedback from clinicians, diabetic control appeared to be a more important criterion for Type 1 than Type 2 patients. Both patients and clinicians briefly recorded the topics they felt had been discussed during the consultation. Comparing the two sets of records revealed significant concordance, within the Type 1 but not the Type 2 sample, between patients and clinicians with respect to whether patients had been given good news. Our findings emphasize the importance of distinguishing Types 1 and 2 diabetes in accounts of patients' expectations and motivation for self-management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents information on a study which discussed the concerns of highly-at-risk patients about their diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy. Beliefs about recommended behaviors; Relationship between direct and indirect measures of renal concern; Factors cited for the low levels of adoption of precautionary behaviors among patients identified as even more at risk than other people with diabetes.