Every Fall/Autumn millions of young adults make their journey to the university. Navigating this new environment, for the first time for many can be daunting. Especially for the post-pandemic generations who may have completed high school education in a virtual mode. As they negotiate the various stresses, including but not limited to academic, societal, and peer pressure, college-going young adults with diabetes must surmount the additional pressure of managing their disease.
Diabetes is one of the most studied diseases. However, the primary focus has been on pediatric and adult diabetes, leaving the field of young adult diabetes management with unmet needs. A recent multi-institution collaborative study (Diabetes Care, 2022) states that the incidence of type 1 diabetes (T1D), is much higher among adults than previously believed. T1D has traditionally been studied as a chronic illness of childhood. However, it is during their young adulthood that people with T1D develop and integrate lifelong diabetes management skills. Hence there is an urgent need to identify unique challenges faced by youth with diabetes and create strategies accordingly.
For young adults living with T1D, managing the balance between hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia due to glycemic variability can be a continuous struggle. This can lead to feelings of powerlessness and fear. Moreover, the shame and stigma in the social environment can cause further complications. These sources of diabetes distress may also limit treatment adherence and glycemic control in young adults. In this research topic, we want to showcase studies that can lead to the development of young adult-friendly diabetes management tools.
Creative design of improved biomedical devices for glucose sensing is one way to approach the problem, hence it is an area of great interest for us. For example, the work of Elsherif et. al. “Wearable Contact Lens Biosensors for Continuous Glucose Monitoring Using Smartphones” (ACS nano 2018) provides a glimpse into wearable glucose sensors of the future. We also wish to call to attention new therapies and drugs targeted toward the treatment of T1D as well as novel nutritional strategies that can be implemented by universities across the world.
Our final aim is to contribute toward equitable diabetes management. The study we mentioned above (Diabetes Care, 2022) highlights the imbalance of T1D data and information coming from high-income countries versus low and middle-income countries. We can expect that access to diabetes management tools follows a similar pattern. Hence it is imperative that we generate technologically advanced but at the same time, cost-effective strategies. This research topic hopes to be a step in that direction.
In this research topic we wish to bring together original research, review articles, and author perspectives that address, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Studies that focus on the progress of new technology and biomedical devices that help young adults monitor and manage glucose levels;
- Studies that offer insight into the development of effective meal plans for students;
- Studies that specifically address therapeutic needs for young adults with T1D.
Every Fall/Autumn millions of young adults make their journey to the university. Navigating this new environment, for the first time for many can be daunting. Especially for the post-pandemic generations who may have completed high school education in a virtual mode. As they negotiate the various stresses, including but not limited to academic, societal, and peer pressure, college-going young adults with diabetes must surmount the additional pressure of managing their disease.
Diabetes is one of the most studied diseases. However, the primary focus has been on pediatric and adult diabetes, leaving the field of young adult diabetes management with unmet needs. A recent multi-institution collaborative study (Diabetes Care, 2022) states that the incidence of type 1 diabetes (T1D), is much higher among adults than previously believed. T1D has traditionally been studied as a chronic illness of childhood. However, it is during their young adulthood that people with T1D develop and integrate lifelong diabetes management skills. Hence there is an urgent need to identify unique challenges faced by youth with diabetes and create strategies accordingly.
For young adults living with T1D, managing the balance between hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia due to glycemic variability can be a continuous struggle. This can lead to feelings of powerlessness and fear. Moreover, the shame and stigma in the social environment can cause further complications. These sources of diabetes distress may also limit treatment adherence and glycemic control in young adults. In this research topic, we want to showcase studies that can lead to the development of young adult-friendly diabetes management tools.
Creative design of improved biomedical devices for glucose sensing is one way to approach the problem, hence it is an area of great interest for us. For example, the work of Elsherif et. al. “Wearable Contact Lens Biosensors for Continuous Glucose Monitoring Using Smartphones” (ACS nano 2018) provides a glimpse into wearable glucose sensors of the future. We also wish to call to attention new therapies and drugs targeted toward the treatment of T1D as well as novel nutritional strategies that can be implemented by universities across the world.
Our final aim is to contribute toward equitable diabetes management. The study we mentioned above (Diabetes Care, 2022) highlights the imbalance of T1D data and information coming from high-income countries versus low and middle-income countries. We can expect that access to diabetes management tools follows a similar pattern. Hence it is imperative that we generate technologically advanced but at the same time, cost-effective strategies. This research topic hopes to be a step in that direction.
In this research topic we wish to bring together original research, review articles, and author perspectives that address, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Studies that focus on the progress of new technology and biomedical devices that help young adults monitor and manage glucose levels;
- Studies that offer insight into the development of effective meal plans for students;
- Studies that specifically address therapeutic needs for young adults with T1D.
