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At what age do diabetic children give their own injections?
Insights
Children with diabetes achieve insulin injection independence around age 11. Factors like sex or family history did not influence this milestone, and no specific psychosocial issues were linked to delayed self-injection in diabetic children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Child Psychology
Background:
- Self-management of type 1 diabetes is crucial for children.
- Achieving insulin injection independence is a key developmental milestone.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the average age of injection independence in children with diabetes.
- To identify factors influencing the age of self-injection.
- To investigate characteristics of children who achieve late injection independence.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of medical records from 66 children at a UK Paediatric Diabetic Clinic.
- Data collection focused on age of self-administered insulin injections.
- Comparison of 'late injectors' ( >= 14 years) with early injectors.
Main Results:
- The mean age of injection independence was 11.2 years (SD, 2.2 years).
- No significant associations were found between injection independence age and sex, birth order, or family history of diabetes.
- Eleven children (20%) were identified as 'late injectors' ( >= 14 years), with no distinguishing psychiatric or psychosocial factors compared to early injectors.
Conclusions:
- Most children with diabetes achieve insulin injection independence by early adolescence.
- Common demographic and familial factors do not appear to predict the age of injection independence.
- Late injection independence in diabetic children is not associated with identifiable adverse psychosocial or psychiatric conditions.
Abstract:
The age at which diabetic children gave themselves insulin injections (injection independence) was investigated by analysis of the notes on 66 children who attend the Oxford (England) Paediatric Diabetic Clinic. The mean age of injection independence was found to be 11.2 years (SD, 2.2 years). Sex, rank in the family, and family experience of diabetes had no effect on the age of injection independence. A group of 11 children were identified as being "late injectors," having not gained injection independence by the age of 14 years. No psychiatric or adverse psychosocial factors were found that distinguished this group from the 45 children who could give their own injections by this age.