Childhood diabetes and mood disorders

Abstract

Clinical vignette: A 16 year old male wasdiagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus three months ago. His condition was uncontrolled with a hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) of 9.0%. He has been meetingmonthly with his diabetes treatment team, but struggling at carbohydrate counting and managing insulin. The patient'smother has a history of depression,polysubstance abuse, and frequently failed to attendscheduled appointments. At the three month follow up visit, his HbA1c was 9.6%. He now reported sadness, low energy, and insomnia, decreased interest in sports or social contact, and feeling hopeless.