Adherence to treatment in diabetes mellitus type 1 treated in a specialized program in Porto Alegre

Abstract

Diabetes Mellitus is considered one of the most important endocrine-metabolic diseases in childhood,with limitation and risk of life to the carrier in reason of its cardiovascular complications at long term. Thisis a quantitative study which aimed to evaluate the adherence to the treatment of children in school age whoare carriers of Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 and are treated at specialized clinic in Porto Alegre: the Institute forChildren with Diabetes (ICD). Data were collected through a semi-structured questionnaire with 25 children with a mean age of 9 years old. The follow-up in the clinic was 1.96±0.8 years, and the mean of thetreated disease was 1.76±0.7 years. Most children 21 (84%) have parents as the primary caregiver, all 25(100%) recognize the importance of the nursing treatment and 23 (92%) trust in the conduct of professionals. Fifteen (60%) children face difficulties related to the food plan.  The adherence to the treatment wasobserved in 11 (44%) children, who did not miss any appointment; and they do not forget to apply insulin inthe last 6 months and reported that they follow the prescribed diet. Conclusion: The adherence to thetreatment of diabetics children is related to the parents interest and knowledgement of disease in additionto socio-economic factors. The nurse's work was fully recognized by the children's parents.