The management of diabetes in adolescents and young adults: a preliminary case study

This paper describes one part of a first-stage study concerned with the care received by a group of adolescents and young adults with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) in one district health authority. The paper reports findings from a self-selected sample of 30 patients aged between 15 and 25. Each of the 30 patients was interviewed during a routine appointment at a diabetes clinic. The patients' doctor at the clinic and one of the diabetes specialist nurses also filled in a short questionnaire for each of the patients interviewed. The main finding was that although all 30 patients interviewed reported that their diabetes control was at least moderately good, a significant number of patients had blood glucose levels above the recommended norm. The study lends support to the widely held belief that young adults with diabetes have particular difficulties in maintaining blood glucose levels within a normal range. It is suggested that processes within the current mode of care may be contributing to this poor level of control. Recommendations for a controlled trial of specialist nurse versus doctor care are made.