Two cases of type 1 diabetes in adolescents: To test blood glucose or not to test?

Abstract

Coping with diabetes and managing daily challenges remain a major factor in adolescents. After initial diagnosis, the daily management of diabetes happens at home. Dealing with diabetes on a daily basis affects dietary habits and physical activities. Daily multiple testing of finger blood glucose levels increases the emotional burden of the disease. Clarifying the responsibility for diabetes self-management should be a continuous dialogue between adolescents and parents. These are two cases of adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus that did not have direct parental supervision at home. The two adolescents concerned have altered the results of their self-glucose monitoring to obtain secondary gain and avoid diabetes self-management, showing how manipulative teenagers can be when it comes to dealing with diabetes. COPYRIGHT © 2013 JOHN WILEY & SONS.