Diabetes

Diabetes is one of the most common chronic conditions in children. Rates of type 1 diabetes among children and youth have been on the rise globally. Canada has one of the highest incidence rates of type 1 diabetes for children under 14 years of age. Children under the age of five are the fastest growing segment of the population with type 1 diabetes.

The clinical research program at CHEO is led by Dr. Margaret Lawson and focuses on clinical trials to prevent type 1 diabetes and better understand its natural history as well as the use of technology (pump therapy and continuous glucose monitoring) to optimize glucose control and quality for children and youth with type 1 diabetes.

Research Projects

Psychiatric disorders in emerging adults with diabetes transitioning to adult care: a retrospective cohort study
12/02/2021

Prolonged gaps in care during transfer to adult care are common and may be associated with increased psychiatric disorder risk. Developmental factors associated with adolescence and emerging adulthood may further amplify this risk.
Timing of CGM initiation in pediatric diabetes: The CGM TIME Trial
23/10/2020

CGM adherence was higher after 6 months when initiated at same time as pump therapy compared to starting CGM 6 months after pump therapy. Greater CGM adherence was associated with improved HbA1c.
The impact of limited and strategic blood glucose monitoring on metabolic control in a type 1 diabetes clinic in Central India
01/05/2020

This study assessed whether the use of two SMBG tests per day improves glycemic control, measured by a change in HbA1c, in youth with T1D followed at the DREAM Trust (DT) in Nagpur, India.
Effect of Hydrolyzed Infant Formula vs Conventional Formula on Risk of Type 1 Diabetes: The TRIGR Randomized Clinical Trial
01/01/2018

Among infants at risk for type 1 diabetes, weaning to a hydrolyzed formula compared with a conventional formula did not reduce the cumulative incidence of type 1 diabetes after median follow-up for 11.5 years. These findings do not support a need to revise the dietary recommendations for infants at risk for type 1 diabetes.
Management of Type 1 diabetes in a limited resource context: A study of the diabetes research education and management trust model in Nagpur, Central India
04/10/2017

The DT charitable programme overcomes social status, gender inequalities and experience of social stigma to provide life-saving treatment to children with T1D in central India.
Social Determinants of Health on Glycemic Control in Pediatric Type 1 Diabetes
03/04/2013

Measures of the SDH comprising Material and Social Deprivation were significantly associated with suboptimal glycemic control in our pediatric T1D cohort. Use of insulin pump therapy also predicted A1C and may have a moderating effect on these relationships.