Young diabetics: memories, current lifestyles and attitudes

Eighty-six subjects aged 22.3 +/- 2.3 years (mean +/- S.D.), who attended one clinic as diabetic children, filled in a questionnaire designed to evaluate their present health and lifestyles, as well as discover their childhood memories. About two-thirds (66.3%) had unhappy recollections particularly of such irritating routines as urine testing, injections, and special food programmes. Only 6% complained that future complications were not discussed with the child at the appropriate time, but with the exception of blindness, childhood knowledge of diabetic complications was poor. Around two-thirds (66.4%) left school with some examination result; 44.2% went into further education, while 19.8% entered into a trade. These attainments were comparable to those of local school leavers. As young diabetic adults, 62.8% were employed; 22.1% were students or housewives with no other occupations.