Significance of family and peer support for metabolic control of type 1 diabetes in adolescents

The aim of the paper was to explore the significance of family and peer support for metabolic control of Type 1 diabetes in adolescents. Metabolic control refers to maintenance of acceptable blood glucose level thus diminishing risk for chronic complications. It involves regular insulin shots, measuring blood glucose and keeping diary, as the daily based self-control. Regular visits to endocrinologist and screening for chronic complications are compulsory. The sample comprised 79 adolescents age 10-17 years with diagnose of Type 1 diabetes and properly treated at the institute. The sample was divided in two groups - with good (N=40) and poor (N=39) metabolic control. A criterium for good metabolic control was glycosilated hemoglobin less than 7,6%. Social support was measured by Social Support Scale consisting of two parts - the first for estimation of registered family support (based upon modified Perceived Social Support Family Scale) and the second for estimation of registered friends' support (modified Perceived Social Support Friend Scale). Adolescents with good metabolic control referred statistically more significant social support in the family, unlike the group with poor metabolic control. Considering peer social support, there was no statistically significant difference. Positive family history for diabetes also appeared to be directly linked to good metabolic control. Cilj rada je bio da ispita znacaj socijalne podrske porodice i vrsnjaka za metabolicku kontrolu bolesti kod adolescenata sa Tip 1 dijabetesom. Metabolicka kontrola dijebetesa predstavlja regulaciju nivoa secera u krvi i veoma je vazna, jer smanjuje rizik od hronicnih komplikacija koje nastaju kao posledica ove hronicne bolesti. Metabolicka regulacija dijabetesa odvija se putem glikoregulacije (redovnim davanjem injekcija insulina u prepisanoj dozi), a kontrola ove regulacije od strane pacijenta sprovodi se svakodnevnim merenjem glikemije i vodjenjem Dnevnika samokontrole. Ispitano je 79 adolescenata uzrasta 10-17 godina, kod kojih je dijagnostikovan dijabetes Tip 1 (insulin zavisni) koji su ukljuceni u tretman dijabetesa na Institutu za zdravstvenu zastitu dece i omladine Vojvodine u Novom Sadu. Uzorak je bio podeljen u 2 grupe: grupu dece sa dobrom metabolickom kontrolom (N=40) i grupu dece sa losom metabolickom kontrolom dijabetesa (N=39). Dobra metabolicka kontrola je definisana glikoziranim nivoom hemoglobina HgbA1c < 7,6%. Od instrumenata koriscena je Skala socijalne podrske k