Ann Pediatr Endocrinol Metab.  2012 Dec;17(4):224-229. 10.6065/apem.2012.17.4.224.

Insulin Self-injection in School by Children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

• Park SH
• Kang HS
• Hwang SY
• Hwang SH
• Shin Y
• Lee JE

• KMID: 1429707
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.6065/apem.2012.17.4.224

Abstract

PURPOSE
Patients with type 1 diabetes have difficulty controlling diabetes during adolescence. Active self-management of diabetes in school during adolescence is essential for type 1 diabetic adolescents to successfully adapt to school and shift toward a healthy adulthood. This research examined insulin self-injection in school by diabetic adolescents and the correlation between the control of blood sugar and school adaptation. METHOD: Forty adolescents (aged 10-18 years) who were receiving care for type 1 diabetes in pediatric divisions of two university hospitals in the Incheon and Bucheon area from July 2011 to May 2012 were surveyed.
RESULTS
Of the intense insulin treatment group (33/40), self-administration of insulin took place outside (22/33, 67%) and inside (11/33, 33%) restrooms. There was no significant difference in hemoglobin A1c between the two groups (P=0.7). 60% of those that had self-injected themselves within the restroom had not exposed their diabetes with more than 5 friends, while only 23% of those that had self-injected themselves outside the restroom had not exposed their diabetes with more than 5 friends, showing statistic significance between the two groups (P=0.02). There was also a significant difference in the frequency of experiencing depression: 91% for the group with self-injection in the restroom and 45% for the group with self-injection outside the restroom (P=0.02).
CONCLUSION
Thirty-three percent of diabetic adolescents administered insulin in the restroom. These diabetic adolescents were reluctant to discuss the disease with others and had a higher frequency of experiencing depression. Thus, schools need to provide active support and care for students with type 1 diabetes.

Keyword

Diabetes mellitus, type 1; Adolescent; Insulin; Schools

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Blood Glucose
Child
Depression
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1
Friends
Hemoglobins
Hospitals, University
Humans
Hypogonadism
Insulin
Mitochondrial Diseases
Ophthalmoplegia
Self Care
Blood Glucose
Hemoglobins
Hypogonadism
Insulin
Mitochondrial Diseases
Ophthalmoplegia