Racial Ethnic Disparities in Youth With Type 1 Diabetes Participating in Diabetes Summer Camps

Author(s)

Jessica M. Valenzuela, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Sam E. Records, American Diabetes Association
Kelly Mueller, American Diabetes Association
Megan T. Martin, Strategic Partnerships & Programs at Pack Health
Risa M. Wolf, The Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Diabetes Care

ISSN

1935-5548

Publication Date

4-2020

Abstract

Objective: Diabetes camps are beneficial for campers and include benefits such as increases in diabetes knowledge, glycemic control, and psychological functioning. Racial/ethnic minority youth are likely to have poorer disease management and glycemic control. We hypothesized that minority youth with type 1 diabetes have reduced participation in diabetes summer camps.

Research design and methods: We analyzed deidentified data from 5,256 campers with type 1 diabetes who participated in a network of 48 American Diabetes Association-affiliated summer camps in 2018, and we compared participation rates by racial/ethnic category to the most recent SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth study prevalence rates.

Results: Camper demographics were significantly different than in the general population of children with type 1 diabetes (P < 0.001). Minority youth were more likely to attend day camp, be first-time campers, and request financial aid, and they were less likely to be on insulin pump therapy or use continuous glucose monitors.

Conclusions: Racial/ethnic minority youth with diabetes are underrepresented in diabetes camps nationwide.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.2337/dc19-1502

Volume

43

Issue

4

First Page

903

Last Page

905

PubMed ID

31974104

NSUWorks Citation

Valenzuela, J. M., Records, S. E., Mueller, K., Martin, M. T., Wolf, R. M. (2020). Racial Ethnic Disparities in Youth With Type 1 Diabetes Participating in Diabetes Summer Camps. Diabetes Care, 43(4), 903-905.
Available at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cps_facarticles/1861