Diabetes Distress in Caregivers of Young Children With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus.
- 1Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- 2Department of Behavioral Psychology, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Abstract
Introduction
The American Diabetes Association recommends screening for diabetes distress in individuals with diabetes and their caregivers. We evaluated the clinical utility of the Problem Areas in Diabetes-Parent Revised version (PAID-PR) distress screener in caregivers of young children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and examined associations between diabetes distress, demographic and clinical characteristics, and diabetes technology use.Methods
In this prospective survey study, caregivers of children with T1DM aged <8 years completed the PAID-PR during multidisciplinary diabetes clinic visits. The PAID-PR scores and clinical data were collected. Associations between diabetes distress, clinical characteristics, and diabetes technology use were assessed using the Fisher exact, Wilcoxon rank sum, and 2-sample t tests. Distress related to theoretical vs immediate burdens was compared using paired t tests.Results
Thirty caregivers (73.3% mothers) of children with T1DM (mean age [SD] = 5.4y [1.9], 70% non-Hispanic White, 60% commercially insured) completed the PAID-PR. Child median diabetes duration was 1.5 years (interquartile range [IQR] = 0.6, 2.3), median HbA1c 7.6% (IQR = 6.9, 8.1). All children used continuous glucose monitors, 73.3% Omnipod 5, 6.7% Tandem Mobi, and 20% multiple daily injections. The median distress score was 30.6/100 (IQR = 22.2, 36.1; the lowest 75th percentile of distress = 24.3 [12.5, 31.9]; the highest 25th percentile = 42.9 [38.6, 52.8]). Scores did not differ by demographics, clinical characteristics, or diabetes technology use. Caregivers indicated significantly greater distress from theoretical vs immediate burdens (P < .0001).Conclusions
Caregivers of young children with T1DM experience greater distress related to anticipated future (theoretical) burdens than with immediate diabetes management. Understanding these distress patterns can help guide psychosocial supports.
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BibTeX
@article{georges2026diabetes,
title = {{Diabetes Distress in Caregivers of Young Children With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus.}},
author = {Elena D Georges and Neha Parimi and Karen Dimentstein and Elizabeth A Brown and Risa M Wolf},
journal = {Journal of diabetes science and technology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1177/19322968261492339},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42894327},
note = {CC BY-NC},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Diabetes Distress in Caregivers of Young Children With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus.
AU - Elena D Georges
AU - Neha Parimi
AU - Karen Dimentstein
AU - Elizabeth A Brown
AU - Risa M Wolf
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/18
JO - Journal of diabetes science and technology
DO - 10.1177/19322968261492339
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42894327
AB - Introduction The American Diabetes Association recommends screening for diabetes distress in individuals with diabetes and their caregivers. We evaluated the clinical utility of the Problem Areas in Diabetes-Parent Revised version (PAID-PR) distress screener in caregivers of young children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and examined associations between diabetes distress, demographic and clinical characteristics, and diabetes technology use.Methods In this prospective survey study, caregivers of children with T1DM aged <8 years completed the PAID-PR during multidisciplinary diabetes clinic visits. The PAID-PR scores and clinical data were collected. Associations between diabetes distress, clinical characteristics, and diabetes technology use were assessed using the Fisher exact, Wilcoxon rank sum, and 2-sample t tests. Distress related to theoretical vs immediate burdens was compared using paired t tests.Results Thirty caregivers (73.3% mothers) of children with T1DM (mean age [SD] = 5.4y [1.9], 70% non-Hispanic White, 60% commercially insured) completed the PAID-PR. Child median diabetes duration was 1.5 years (interquartile range [IQR] = 0.6, 2.3), median HbA1c 7.6% (IQR = 6.9, 8.1). All children used continuous glucose monitors, 73.3% Omnipod 5, 6.7% Tandem Mobi, and 20% multiple daily injections. The median distress score was 30.6/100 (IQR = 22.2, 36.1; the lowest 75th percentile of distress = 24.3 [12.5, 31.9]; the highest 25th percentile = 42.9 [38.6, 52.8]). Scores did not differ by demographics, clinical characteristics, or diabetes technology use. Caregivers indicated significantly greater distress from theoretical vs immediate burdens (P < .0001).Conclusions Caregivers of young children with T1DM experience greater distress related to anticipated future (theoretical) burdens than with immediate diabetes management. Understanding these distress patterns can help guide psychosocial supports.
SN - 1932-2968
ER -