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The management of diabetes in adolescents and young adults: a preliminary case study
Author(s) -
ROBINSON J.J.A.,
SOWDEN J. A.,
TATTERSALL R.B.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
journal of clinical nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.94
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1365-2702
pISSN - 0962-1067
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2702.1995.tb00215.x
Subject(s) - medicine , diabetes mellitus , metabolic control analysis , diabetes management , family medicine , young adult , blood glucose monitoring , pediatrics , type 2 diabetes , gerontology , endocrinology
Summary• This paper describes one part of a first‐stage study concerned with the care received by a group of adolescents and young adults with insulin‐dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) in one district health authority. • The paper reports findings from a self‐selected sample of 30 patients aged between 15 and 25. Each of the 30 patients was interviewed during a routine appointment at a diabetes clinic. The patients' doctor at the clinic and one of the diabetes specialist nurses also filled in a short questionnaire for each of the patients interviewed. • The main finding was that although all 30 patients interviewed reported that their diabetes control was at least moderately good, a significant number of patients had blood glucose levels above the recommended norm. • The study lends support to the widely held belief that young adults with diabetes have particular difficulties in maintaining blood glucose levels within a normal range. • It is suggested that processes within the current mode of care may be contributing to this poor level of control. Recommendations for a controlled trial of specialist nurse versus doctor care are made.