A Worldwide Perspective on COVID-19 and Diabetes Management in 22,820 Children from the SWEET Project: Diabetic Ketoacidosis Rates Increase and Glycemic Control Is Maintained

Aims: To investigate the short-term effects of the first wave of COVID-19 on clinical parameters in children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) from 82 worldwide centers participating in the Better Control in Pediatric and Adolescent DiabeteS: Working to CrEate CEnTers of Reference (SWEET) registry. Materials and Methods: Aggregated data per person with T1D ≤21 years of age were compared between May/June 2020 (first wave), August/September 2020 (after wave), and the same periods in 2019. Hierarchic linear and logistic regression models were applied. Models were adjusted for gender, age-, and diabetes duration-groups. To distinguish the added burden of the COVID-19 pandemic, the centers were divided into quartiles of first wave COVID-19-associated mortality in their country. Results: In May/June 2019 and 2020, respectively, there were 16,735 versus 12,157 persons, 52% versus 52% male, median age 13.4 (Q1; Q3: 10.1; 16.2) versus13.5 (10.2; 16.2) years, T1D duration 4.5 (2.1; 7.8) versus 4.5 (2.0; 7.8) years, and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) 60.7 (53.0; 73.8) versus 59.6 (50.8; 70.5) mmol/mol [7.8 (7.0; 8.9) versus 7.6 (6.8; 8.6) %]. Across all country quartiles of COVID-19 mortality, HbA1c and rate of severe hypoglycemia remained comparable to the year before the first wave, while diabetic ketoacidosis rates increased significantly in the centers from countries with the highest mortality rate, but returned to baseline after the wave. Continuous glucose monitoring use decreased slightly during the first wave (53% vs. 51%) and increased significantly thereafter (55% vs. 63%, P < 0.001). Conclusions: Although glycemic control was maintained, a significant rise in DKA at follow-up was seen during first wave in the quartile of countries with the highest COVID mortality.