TREATMENT ADHERENCE IN ADOLESCENTS WITH TYPE 1 DIABETES MELLITUS

Adherence to treatment in patients with diabetes mellitus, can minimize the long-term complications and maintain adequate levels of blood sugar. In adolescence, internal and external demands, resulting from physical, social and psychological changes, can lead to decreased compliance with treatment of type 1 diabetes mellitus. Thus, this study investigated the relationship between treatment adherence and self-care in adolescents with type 1 diabetes, also observing indicators of anxiety, depression and stress and other sociodemographic variables. Study participants were 122 adolescents diagnosed with type 1 diabetes aged between 12 and 18 years (M=14.71; ±1.77), and 56.6% were male, responding to self-report instruments. There were significant correlations (p<0.05) between adherence, self-care, symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress, number of hospitalizations and the average of the last two measured values of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), suggesting that emotional factors and control disease interact in complex ways. Therefore, there is the Rua Henrique Dias, 182/502, Bom Fim, 90035-100, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil. Telf.: (51) 33165253; . (51) 993613873. e-mail: juliana_greco@hotmail.com. Juliana Prytula Greco-Soares & Débora Dalbosco Dell’Aglio www.sp-ps.pt 323 importance of investigating adherence to treatment and the impact this has on the lives of adolescents, especially with regard to minimizing complications of type 1 diabetes and mental health promotion.