Psychosocial impact of type 1 diabetes mellitus in children, adolescents and their families. Literature review

Type 1 diabetes mellitus is the most common chronic endocrine pathology among children. Treatment includes diet, physical activity, insulin medication, and proper self-control. This self-control may be difficult, resulting in children, adolescents and their families suffering diverse psychosocial complications. There is an inverse relationship between self-control and psychosocial complications, the main problems being anxiety and depression, where adolescents are 2.3 times more likely to have mental health problems. Families are initially affected, in the debut period by a state of shock, with feelings of distress and anger. The necesary changes in habits and lifestyles can lead to psychosocial problems, including anxiety, depression and eating disorders. Subsequently, the child or adolescent and his or her family group may move into new balance characterized by good self-control and adherence to tratment, or deepen individual and group disorders which may reappear, especially in adolescence. The comprehensive treatment of type 1 diabetes mellitus requires addressing these aspects through multidisciplinary teams which include medical and phychosocial professionals. This review analyses the main aspects related to the psychosocial impact of diabetes mellitus type 1 among children, adolescents and their families.