The Intervention of Parents in Supporting of Diabetes Type 1 in Adolescents

INTRODUCTION: The presence of parents is very important as it enhances the psychology of adolescents resulting to the normal course of the disease. AIM: Investigate the perceptions of adolescents in order to support families in the management of T1D. MATERIAL & METHODS: It is a descriptive study and 56 patients participated. The Diabetes Social Support Questionnaire-Family Version (DSSQ-Family) and some demographic and clinical characteristics were used. The study conducted in the outpatient unit for pediatric diabetology of the 4(th) Department of Pediatrics in one tertiary General Hospital in a major city of Northern Greece. RESULTS: Younger adolescents felt more supported by their families. Overweight adolescents experienced less support with respect to insulin injections (p = -.333, r = .018), as did the taller respondents (p = -.323, r = .022). Respondents taking more insulin units felt less supported in general (p = -.268, r = .047) and with respect to blood tests (p = -.290, r = .034). Adolescents carrying out more blood glucose measurements felt less supported concerning their meal plan (p =-.307, r = .028), which they rarely complied with (p =-.322, r = .023). CONCLUSIONS: The parental presence is very important enhancing a positive mindset on the part of adolescents and helps achieve the desired treatment results.