Level of Internet use among Greek adolescents with type 1 diabetes

Background Compulsive Internet use has emerged as a contemporary addictive behavior. Our aim was to investigate the reasons for Greek adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and their families to use the Internet and additionally to investigate the level of Internet use and its associations to demographic, socio-economic parameters and glycemic control. Methods Patients with T1DM, aged >12 years and their parents were recruited during their regular visits to the Pediatric Diabetes Clinic. A similar group of healthy children, age- and sex-matched served as a control group. All participants were asked to fill out the Greek translated version of the Internet Addiction Test (IAT). Caregivers of patients with T1DM were asked to complete a second questionnaire consisting of questions regarding demographic and socio-economic data of the family and data concerning disease management. Results Thirty-five patients with T1DM (mean decimal age of 14.95 ± 1.90 years) and 35 controls participated in the study. Nine patients were on an insulin pump whereas the rest were on multiple daily injections. The mean total score of the patients' IAT questionnaires was significantly lower compared to the controls (26.26 ± 12.67 vs. 39.91 ± 18.55, p = 0.003). Controls were characterized as exhibiting moderate addictive behavior at a significantly higher percentage than patients (31.43% vs. 2.86%, p = 0.002). All patients on insulin pumps demonstrated normal Internet use. Mild addictive behavior was associated with a lower parental educational level. Finally, level of Internet use (IAT score) was positively associated to glycemic control (HbA1c value) with a correlation that was approaching significance (r = 0.315, p = 0.065). Conclusions Adolescents with T1DM and especially those on an insulin pump exhibit normal Internet use compared to their healthy peers. Time consumed on Internet correlates reversibly with glycemic control.