Education un transition. What's new about it?

Abstract

Adolescence constitutes a period of great biological and psychosocial vulnerability.Managing chronic diseases such as diabetes is especially complex in this age group,frequently resulting in a deterioration of glycemic control and an increased risk of acute and chronic complications. This worsening is heavily conditioned by interconnected factors, such as pubertal insulin resistance, mental health comorbidities, evolving neurocognition, drastic lifestyle changes, and specific behavioral barriers like disease rejection or denial.

Because current medical advances allow for greater overall survival of these patients, an effective and safe transfer from pediatric units to adult care centers has become mandatory. However, this transition process exposes patients to mmultiple challenges and barriers that jeopardize continuity of care and therapeutic adherence. Among the main difficulties described are inadequate preparation of the adolescent to achieve autonomy, prolonged gaps without medical follow-up, a consequent increase in hospitalization rates, a lack of healthcare services specifically designed for this age group, and the complex adaptation to the institutional dynamics of adult centers.

Faced with this critical scenario, the designation of a specialized transition coordinator emerges as the fundamental strategy and indispensable operational pillar to mitigate the negative clinical impact. This key figure assumes the central role of actively articulating and guiding the patient throughout the entire transition process, acting as a human and institutional bridge between both healthcare teams.

Under the leadership and supervision of this coordinator, the implementation of formally planned, structured, and interdisciplinary transition programs becomes viable. Furthermore, it is this professional who optimizes the utilization of other complementary tools, such as intermediate models of dedicated day hospitals and the strategic use of digital health platforms for continuous monitoring and support.