Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026

Improving IV Insulin Administration in a Community Hospital
Published on: June 11, 2012
[Psychological aspects of treatment compliance in the insulin- dependent diabetic child]
1Unité d'Endocrinologie Pédiatrique et Diabète, Hôpital des Enfants Malades, Paris.
Insights
Children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) often simplify complex treatments, adhering strictly to their own regimens. Improving patient education requires acknowledging this tendency for better metabolic control.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Behavioral Science
- Diabetes Mellitus Research
Context:
- Investigated cognitions regarding treatment and compliance in children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM).
- Study included 39 children with a mean age of 13.8 years and a mean diabetes duration of 5.1 years.
Purpose:
- To explore children's conceptualizations of diabetes treatment and their adherence to medical recommendations.
- To understand the cognitive factors influencing treatment compliance in pediatric IDDM patients.
Summary:
- 90% of children perceived treatment complexity as the primary barrier to compliance.
- Children developed simplified, idiosyncratic treatment regimens, adhering meticulously to these personal constructions despite possessing adequate knowledge of prescribed therapies.
- Complex elements like glucose monitoring and dietary management were often simplified or omitted in their self-devised plans.
Impact:
- Patient education strategies should incorporate children's tendency for simplification to enhance regimen acceptance.
- Collaborative development of acceptable, individualized treatment plans can improve metabolic control in pediatric diabetes management.
- Understanding cognitive representations is key to optimizing therapeutic outcomes in adolescents with IDDM.
Abstract:
Cognitions (conceptual constructs) concerning treatment and compliance with treatment were investigated in 39 children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (mean age, 13.8 +/- 3.0 years; duration of diabetes mellitus, 5.1 +/- 3.2 years). A structured interview and a scale exploring diabetes-related cognitions were administered to each child. Results were as follows: the complexity of treatment of IDDM was perceived as the main obstacle to compliance by 90% of subjects; despite adequate knowledge of the prescribed treatment regimen, the children had created a mental representation of what their treatment should be and were highly compliant to this subjective construction. Most of the complex elements of therapy (urine and blood glucose monitoring, diet) were partly eliminated, with the child developing an idiosyncratic therapeutic regimen with which he or she complied scrupulously. The impact of patient education could be improved by taking this tendency towards simplification into account and by working out with the child the most acceptable regimen capable of ensuring optimal metabolic control.
Related Concept Videos
Carbohydrate Metabolism
Starch accounts for approximately 60% of the carbohydrates consumed by humans. Since amylase enzymes cannot function in the stomach's acidic environment, starch can only be digested in the mouth and small intestine. Simple sugars are found naturally in milk and fruits in the...
Diabetes Mellitus: Overview and Type I Subtype
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. As a result, the body is unable to produce sufficient insulin, and individuals with...
Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational
Diabetes: Management and Pharmacotherapy
Insulin remains the cornerstone of treatment for most patients with type 1 and many...
Insulin: Dosing Regimen and Adverse Effects
The basal dose constitutes about 40%-50% of the total daily dose, with the rest as premeal insulin. The mealtime insulin dose should mirror...
Type I Diabetes III: Clinical Manifestations

