Abordagem integral do adolescente com diabetes

Approach to diabetic adolescents

Abstract

The diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic, serious illness, with a slow and gradual evolution, that affects thousand of people, needing intensive care and adjusted medical orientation. it is the fourth cause of death in the country, beyond being the second more common chronic illness in infancy and adolescence, with a great impact of economic and social orders. The adolescence is a period of fast biological changes, including physical and mental developments and emotional maturity, and in this context the patient with DM type 1 (DM1) deserves special care by the health professionals that follow them; the limitations and new responsibilities that appear with the illness can interfere directly with the adequate development of these youngsters, as well as the period that they are living can interfere with their treatments. Even following the prescription correctly, applying the dose and the type of insulin at the certain moment it is not the sufficient for the improvement of the quality of life of these individuals. The education in diabetes must be developed, and diabetic adolescents must routinely be tried for psychological and social dysfunctions, especially familiar depression and disorders.