Type 1 Diabetes Outcomes Of Children Born in Israel Of Eritrean Asylum Seekers

Aims: Disparities in health outcomes in pediatric type 1 diabetes (T1D) based on race/ethnicity and socioeconomic position (SEP) have been reported. We compared T1D characteristics between Eritrean status-less children living in Israel and native-born Israeli children.

Methods: This observational study compared 7 Eritrean and 28 Israeli children (6 months from diagnosis, mean number of samples 10.6±5.2) was good, with mean, best, and peak HbA1c levels of 7.4±0.8% (57.4mmol/mol), 6.7±0.7% (49.7mmol/mol), and 8.1±1.1% (65mmol/mol) respectively. Thirty-two children (91.4%) used continuous glucose monitoring devices (CGMs), and the mean time from diagnosis to CGM initiation was 10.8±14.1 months. CGM metrics: time CGM active: 95.4±3.8%, mean glucose level: 170.0±27.0mg/dl (9.4mmol/L), time-in-range: 56.4±14.7%, time-below-range: 5.5±5.7% and time-above-range: 38.6±16.1%. Diabetes-related parameters at diagnosis and during follow-up were similar between groups. Eritrean children had significantly lower SEPs (P<0.001) and parental education levels (P<0.001). Correlations between SEP and diabetes parameters and SEP and growth parameters were not significant.

Conclusions: Eritrean status-less children in Israel achieved glycemic targets similar to those of Israeli children, perhaps reflecting uniformity in standard of care and CGM usage.