RELATIONS BETWEEN AGE, METABOLIC CONTROL, DISEASE ADJUSTMENT AND PSYCHOLOGICAL-ASPECTS IN INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES-MELLITUS

The relations between age, metabolic control, disease adjustment, and psychological factors in boys and girls with recently diagnosed insuli n-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) were studied. Older girls had sig nificant higher postremission glycosylated haemoglobin A (Hb A(Ic)) le vels (p = 0.008). Girls with more hospitalizations had a lower develop mental level (p = 0.05), and had significantly more problems in the be havioural rating (p = 0.05). Boys with more hospitalizations had a mor e external locus of control (p = 0.01), more difficulties with disease adjustment, more emotional problems, and were also clinically assesse d as having more behavioural problems. Boys showing more difficulties in psychological adjustment Co the disease also had higher postremissi on Hb A(Ic) levels (p = 0.02). Although Swedish children with IDDM of short disease duration do not differ from healthy children in importan t psychological aspects, older girls and a small group-of problematic younger boys are at risk of developing metabolic imbalance after a sho rt disease duration.