Diabetes education for children and adolescents: challenges, concepts and practical implementation
- 15.06.2013
- English Articles
- Karin Lange
Peer-reviewed | Manuscript received: March 31, 2012 | Revision accepted: April 15, 2013
Introduction
During the last two decades, the quality of the metabolic control of children and adolescents with diabetes has improved, as a consequence of intensive forms of therapy and structured education [1]. There have been clear reductions in daily stress with respect to lifestyle and therapy [2]. Despite these improvements, there has been little change during this time in the daily tasks that are required to live with diabetes. Children and parents still have to pay continuous attention to food intake, physical activity, frequent adjustments to insulin administration and the variability of diabetes [3].
Challenges for diabetes education in 2013
Although some new developments have helped to improve life with diabetes, the new challenges for diabetes education are mainly linked to the continual changes in the social environment.
Summary
Structured education immediately after the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes and during follow-up care, is considered as an integral and essential part of long-term paediatric diabetes management. Structured education programs are intended to supply parents and children with the necessary theoretical knowledge, accompanied by a variety of practical skills. The programs are also intended to enhance self-management and to help all family members in coping emotionally with the disease. The present article presents a review of the concepts and curricula of the German language education courses that have been evaluated, focussing on nutritional advice, the support of balanced and age-appropriate eating behaviour, as well as the prevention of eating disorders. The programs are presented in the context of modern diabetes technology, such as insulin pump therapy, as well as changes in the social environment.
Keywords: Diabetes education, programs and courses, children and adolescents, nutritional counselling, social change
