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CC BY 4.0 · Journal of Diabetes and Endocrine Practice 2025; 08(01): 005-017
DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1801834
Review Article

Glycemic Control of Children and Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes in the United Arab Emirates: A Narrative Review.

Autor*innen

  • Sara Adhami 

    1   School of Health, University of the Sunshine Coast, Petrie, Queensland, Australia

  • Steven James 

    1   School of Health, University of the Sunshine Coast, Petrie, Queensland, Australia
    2   Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
    3   School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia

  • Megan Paterson 

    1   School of Health, University of the Sunshine Coast, Petrie, Queensland, Australia
    4   Paediatric Diabetes Department, John Hunter Children's Hospital, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia

  • Asma Deeb 

    5   Paediatric Endocrine Division, Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City Hospital, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

  • Judy Craft 

    6   School of Health, University of the Sunshine Coast, Caboolture, Queensland, Australia

Funding This work is supported by a Research Training Fees Offset Scholarship from the Australian Government (S.A.).
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Abstract

Background Diabetes is the fastest-growing chronic disease in the world with increased morbidity and mortality associated with a diagnosis at a young age. The landscape of glycemic control of children and adolescents in the United Arab Emirates, a dynamic and fast evolving country in the Middle East, is unknown, potentially limiting decisions around patient care, health system planning, and efforts around advocacy.

Aim This article determines the reported glycemic control of this vulnerable population, and factors influencing blood glucose management.

Methods A quantitative epidemiological narrative review was conducted using PubMed, CINAHL, and Cochrane databases, searched from 2012 to 2023. English studies involving the study population were reviewed and appraised.

Results Overall, 16 studies were included, mainly heralding from Abu Dhabi and involving Emirati nationals. Reported mean hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) ranged from 7.9 to 9.6% (63–81 mmol/mol) and diabetes-related technology use was high. Themes identified were diabetes and technology, education, psychology, and Ramadan.

Conclusion Glycemic control was suboptimal, with mean HbA1c being hyperglycemic across included studies, despite a high use of diabetes-related technology. Unless change is made, children and adolescents and young adults with type 1 diabetes will likely experience unnecessary morbidity and mortality.

Keywords

education - pediatrics - psychology - technology - type 1 diabetes - United Arab Emirates

Authors' Contributions

All authors played a vital role in the concept, design, gathering of data, analysis, write up, review, and editing of this manuscript. S.A., being the PhD student, was supported by her supervisors with weekly touch points to review every process and provide feedback and editing where needed. A.D. being the endocrinologist was also crucial to this manuscript as her views and insights regarding the data collection and analysis as well as review of the paper as a whole was a significant contributing factor.


Data Availability

Any additional data requested will be made available upon request.


Statement of Conformance to the Declaration of Helsinki

This study was conducted in full compliance with the ethical principles set forth in the Declaration of Helsinki. As the study did not involve human participants or personal data, ethics approval was not required.


Supplementary Material



Publikationsverlauf

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
20. Januar 2025

© 2025. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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