Children with diabetes mellitus: perception of their behavioural problems by parents and teachers

The behaviour of 127 children with diabetes mellitus aged 8-16 years was assessed by their parents and teachers using a well established screening device and compared to that of 51 non-diabetic children. Twenty five per cent of the diabetics were perceived by their parents to be disturbed compared to only 14% of the controls. The proportion perceived to be disturbed by their teachers was similar in the two groups but more diabetics than controls were perceived by both parents and teachers to be disturbed. No relationship was found between the extent of the behaviour problems recorded and the control of the diabetes, as measured by glycosylated haemoglobin, the child's age, the child's age at diagnosis or the duration of the diabetes. However, the children with the younger parents at diagnosis tended to be perceived by their parents as having more behaviour problems, as were the diabetics from families facing the most social problems. The families more knowledgeable about diabetes were less likely to have disturbed children.