Citation

Scaramuzza AE, De Palma A, Mameli C, Spiri D, Santoro L, Zuccotti GV. Acta Paediatr. 2010; 99(8): 1237-1241.

Affiliation

Department of Pediatrics, University of Milano, "Ospedale Luigi Sacco", via G.B. Grassi 74, 20157 Milan, Italy.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1651-2227.2010.01813.x

PMID

20377535

Abstract

Aim - To assess whether adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus in Italy differ from their healthy peers in regard to risky behaviour. Methods - Data was collected from 215 patients, aged 14+/-2 yrs with a mean disease duration of 7+/-5 yrs. The control group was comprised of 464 healthy adolescents recruited among high school students. Each patient completed an anonymous confidential questionnaire to determine the prevalence of sexual behaviour, alcohol and tobacco consumption, illicit drug use, and, among patients with diabetes, frequency of mismanagement related to diabetes care. Results - Compared to controls, subjects with diabetes showed a similar rate of sexual intercourse among males and lower rates among females (34.8% vs. 35.5%, p NS, and 29.4% vs. 41.4%, p<0.05, respectively). Males in the diabetes group reported a higher rate of tobacco use, while females showed similar or higher rates of use for every illicit drug studied. Among patients with diabetes, those who engaged in risky behaviour showed a higher rate of treatment mismanagement (76% vs. 34%, p<0.01). Conclusions - Adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus are as likely as their healthy peers to engage in risky behaviour, indicating the potential benefit of anticipatory guidance concerning glycaemic control and increased risk of acute and chronic complications.

Language: en