[The functioning of an institution for young diabetic patients. The Terrasses, Niort, 1964/1990]

From 1964 through 1990, 1142 children and teenagers with diabetes mellitus, aged 6 to 17 years, were admitted to the Terrasses Center for one academic year on average and attended local schools. This center provides a unique opportunity for observing young diabetics who live outside the hospital but are monitored by a specialized staff including physicians, other health professionals and educators. The Terrasses Center participated in the training of staff members and in the education of residents and their families. Changes in the daily management of pediatric diabetes mellitus over the last 26 years are reviewed. Emphasis in put on the fact that diabetic children should attend school normally, especially since education is a prerequisite to assuming responsibility for their own management and leading normal social and professional lives later on. Institutionalization is indicated only at those times when the child cannot be adequately treated at home and is aimed at avoiding repeated hospitalizations and absenteeism from school. A further study is needed to determine the outcome in former Terrasse Center residents since this has only been incompletely studied to date.