Evaluating Psychosocial Support Provided by an Augmented Reality Device for Children With Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes (T1D), previously known as juvenile diabetes, has a large impact on everyday life and can pose a number of challenges for both children and their parents. A patient-centered design company, Sproutel, has designed and developed Jerry the Bear®—an interactive augmented reality (AR) stuffed animal toy bear designed to provide children with T1D with comfort and education about their diabetes management through play. We evaluated the AR device in a research study that involved participation over the course of approximately two weeks; the overall research project spanned three years and involved a variety of partners. We investigated whether Jerry the Bear offered psychosocial support to children with T1D and their parents and whether a new prototype version (equipped with audio feedback) offered any additional benefits. We conducted two versions of the study—a lab study ( n = 11) and a remote study without any in-person component ( n = 14). We found two major takeaways: (1) The results from the remote study closely paralleled the more time- and effort-intensive lab study, pointing to a promising avenue of research for hard-to-reach populations. (2) Jerry the Bear had a positive impact on children with T1D and their parents in almost all cases—in some the impact was more neutral, but never markedly negative. We did not find evidence for a consistent preference between the current Jerry the Bear and the new prototype. We also discuss the challenges of conducting rigorous research in highly specific target populations.

Association of Physical Activity With Flexibility in Overweight and Obese Children

Physical activity is also defined as a bodily movement which is produced by skeletal muscles that require energy expenditure. The Daily physical activity can reduce the risk factors such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, and juvenile diabetes mellitus, improves functional health and weight control. Due to lack of physical activity, the children can become overweight or obese. To find the association of physical activity with flexibility in healthy, overweight and obese children. Non-experimental, observational study and 100 samples were taken based on inclusion criteria to find the association of physical activity on flexibility in normal, overweight, obese children, between the age group of 11 - 13 years by using physical activity questionnaire (PAQ-C), Body Mass Index in percentile and, sit and reach test as outcome measures. The study setting was Sree Sankara BalaVidhyalaya School. The physical activity questionnaire was given to them and asked to fill the (PAQ-C) questionnaire, and the flexibility of each child was checked by sit and reach test. The score of the questionnaire and sit and reach test value was recorded. The results showed that there was no significant association in physical activity and flexibility in overweight and obese children. Whereas the physical activity was low among obese children than healthy weight and overweight children, and the flexibility was low among healthy children.

Relationship of Juvenile Diabetic Retinopathy with Thyropathies, Lipid Exchange and Melatonin Production

Progression of diabetic retinopathy is associated with a large number of risk factors, and hyperlipidemia is one of the most common. The work is focused on peculiarities of the progression of juvenile diabetic retinopathy (JDR), depending on the presence of concomitant distyroidism in patients with juvenile diabetes mellitus (JDM), the state of lipid metabolism and melatonin production. The aim. To determine the features of the JDR progression depending on the type of concomitant dysthyroidism, the state of lipid metabolism and production of the hormone melatonin. Materials and methods. The examination of three groups of patients was carried out: group 1 (152 patients) included patients in whom JDM proceeded without thyropathy; group 2 (99 patients) included patients with JDM in combination with autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT); group 3 (111 patients) included patients in whom JDM was accompanied by an increased level of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). Results. It was found that the frequency of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) in the group with JCD and elevated TSH (21.6%) was 2.7 times higher than the frequency of PDR in the group with JDM and AIT (8.1%) and 3.7 times exceeded the frequency of PDD in JDM without distyroidism (5.9%). The greatest violations of all links of lipid metabolism were found in patients with JDM with an increased level of TSH, which contributes to a more pronounced progression of JDR than in patients without thyropathy or concomitant AIT. The average daily excretion of the hormone melatonin (M) among the studied groups was the lowest in patients with PDD with JCD in combination with increased TSH (38.4 ± 2.7 nmol/day) compared with patients with PDD with JCD without thyropathy (48.3 ± 3.8 nmol/day; p <0.01) and with AIT (42.5 ± 5.6 nmol/day; p <0.01), and compared with the control indicator (52.7 ± 5.8 nmol/day; p <0.001). Conclusions. Based on the results obtained it can be concluded that the combination of type 1 JDM with elevated TSH is accompanied by significant disorders of lipid metabolism and melatonin production and this is a risk factor for accelerated progression of JDR. Keywords: juvenile diabetic retinopathy, thyropathy, melatonin production, lipid metabolism.

Challenges Experienced by Parents of Emerging Young Adults With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus During the Transition to College

Purpose The purpose of this study is to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges experienced by parents of emerging young adults (EYAs) with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) who completed their freshman or sophomore year of college. Methods Using a descriptive, qualitative design, 16 parents participated in semistructured interviews that explored factors impacting the college transition for parents of college freshmen and sophomores with T1DM. Participants were recruited from local endocrinology clinics as well as the College Diabetes Network (CDN) Parent Facebook page, the CDN Facebook page, the CDN Twitter feed, and the Delaware Chapter of the JDRF (formerly Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation). Researchers used a thematic analysis to analyze the data and develop categories. Interviews were conducted and recorded via video conferencing from July 2019 to September 2019. Results Results represent data from 16 interviews comprising 15 (94%) mothers and 1 father. Thematic analysis resulted in the emergence of 3 themes: managing parental concerns, changes in the parental role, and identifying sources of parental support. Parents identified several challenges including the EYAs’ ability to manage T1DM at college, communication with the EYA, and the availability of support for parents. Conclusion Parents experience several challenges during their EYA’s transition to college with T1DM. Supporting the needs of parents and EYAs during this time may serve to reduce diabetes-related complications for EYAs and increase overall quality of life for both members of the dyad.

Ultrasonic cavitation in the treatment of purulent wound occurring against the background of juvenile diabetes mellitus and massive immunosuppressive therapy. Clinical case

The article presents a clinical case of a successful comprehensive treatment 29-years-old patient with a purulent necrotic wound of the hand, which occurs against the background of type I diabetes mellitus and massive immunosuppressive therapy (prescribed to prevent renal transplant rejection). The use of ultrasound cavitation as a part of the complex treatment after radical surgical debridement helped to normalize the wound healing process, to reduce the microbial contamination of the wound and to activate repair.