Health-risk behaviors and type 1 diabetes outcomes in the transition from late adolescence to early emerging adulthood

This study examined within- and between-person associations between health-risk behaviors (smoking, drinking, insulin withholding) and type 1 diabetes (T1D) outcomes (adherence and HbA1c) during the high-risk transition from late adolescence to early emerging adulthood utilizing a 2-year longitudinal study. Beginning in the senior year of high school, participants (n = 197) with T1D completed measures of health-risk behaviors, adherence, and HbA1c annually at three time points. Health-risk behaviors were associated with poorer diabetes outcomes during the transition from late adolescence to early emerging adulthood. These results highlight the importance of monitoring health-risk behaviors regularly and intervening to reduce health-risk behaviors during this important developmental transition.