Transitioning Adolescents and Young Adults with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus in Italy: A Scoping Review.

Background/

Objectives

Worldwide, Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in youth represents a growing public health concern, and Italy is among the countries with the highest incidence in the pediatric population. The transition from pediatric to adult care is a vulnerable period associated with increased risks of acute complications and long-term morbidity. This scoping review aimed to map the available Italian evidence on healthcare transition in adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with T1DM, addressing five key areas: characteristics of the transition process and involved populations, emotional and psychological experiences, the role of technology, existing transitional care models and related outcomes, and assessment criteria and tools for transition readiness.

Methods

This review followed the JBI methodology and included studies focused on Italian AYAs (aged 10-24 years) with T1DM. Study selection was documented using the PRISMA flow chart.

Results

Twenty studies were included. The evidence revealed a heterogeneous and inconsistently implemented transition landscape. Several structured transition projects were identified, differing in multidisciplinary team composition, organization, and outcome evaluation. Emotional distress, fear of separation from pediatric providers, and variable satisfaction with transition experiences were commonly reported. Adoption of technologies increased over time and was associated with improved clinical outcomes, although overall uptake remained suboptimal. Importantly, no Italian-validated tools for assessing transition readiness were identified.

Conclusions

Transitional care for Italian AYAs with T1DM is increasingly recognized but remains insufficiently standardized and evaluated. Future research should prioritize multicenter studies, stratified analyses, and the development of culturally validated readiness assessment tools to support effective and individualized transitions.