Introduction to transition of adolescents to adult diabetes management

This topic refers to adolescents through to young adults (ie people aged 15 to 30 years).

Management of adolescents with diabetes is transferred from child- and family-centred to adult-centred multidisciplinary diabetes services. The age that transition of care takes place varies depending on patient factors (eg maturity, level of education, family situation) and local health service policy. This process of patient transition is described as the purposeful planned movement of adolescents and young adults with chronic physical and medical conditions from child-orientated to adult-orientated healthcare systems.

During periods of transition, adolescents and young adults with type 1 diabetes are at risk of disengagement with the healthcare system, resulting in poor diabetes-related outcomes including early onset of complications, increased hospitalisation for diabetic ketoacidosis or severe hypoglycaemia, and increased mortality. Therefore, effective transition is important for adolescents and young adults with type 1 diabetes. Evidence is lacking regarding transition of adolescents and young adults with type 2 diabetes; however, the same principles should apply as for type 1 diabetes because the risk of early onset of complications and increased mortality is also high for these patients.