Depression and Diabetes Study

1. Depression And Anxiety in Specified Youth Every year thousands of children are diagnosed with diabetes (American Diabetes Association, 2009). My son, Connor, was diagnosed when he was 5 years old. Is he susceptible to depression? American Diabetes Association (2009). Retrieved Online May 13, 2009 from www.diabetes.org

2. Depression And Anxiety in Specified Youth What causes depression in type 1 diabetics? Why is it important to understand this issue? What can be done to prevent depression in adolescents with type 1 diabetes? Are there any common indicators in these children at risk?

3. Depression And Anxiety in Specified Youth Children can be diagnosed at a very young age and after having diabetes for several years, may begin to exhibit signs of depression and anxiety over the fact that they have to deal with this disease for the rest of their lives.

4. Depression And Anxiety in Specified Youth In the Diabetes Care Clinical Care Guidelines it states a link between glycemic control and duration of diabetes in children. Glycemic control is then compared to the percentage of children and adolescents who experience anxiety and depression specific to glycemic control. Other factors such as care settings, parental status and socioeconomic status have also been indicated to affect the population that is affected by anxiety and depression (Diabetes Care, 2009).

5. Depression And Anxiety in Specified Youth Does a child who is diagnosed at a very young age have greater likelihood of suffering from depression in their teen years, or does a newly diagnosed teenager have a greater chance of experiencing conflict and depression? Is depression in diabetes associated more with one gender than another?

6. Depression And Anxiety in Specified Youth For individuals with type 1 diabetes, adolescence is often associated with neglect of self-monitoring and lack of diabetes management. Generally speaking, this begins to occur between the ages of 13-14, while peaking at ages 17-19 (Pediatric Diabetes, 2007). The immaturity of adolescents’ problem solving skills and maturational processes of life stage changes are often the ignition to such behavior and psychosocial changes.

7. Depression And Anxiety in Specified Youth Key indicators of at risk adolescents: Age at onset of diabetes Duration of chronic disease Family dynamics (divorce, separated, siblings) Gender Quality of care (quarterly visits including use of social workers and nutritionists)

8. Depression And Anxiety in Specified Youth Characteristics of depression in adolescents with type 1 diabetes include: A1c values >8.5% Loss of interaction Lack of diabetes management Skipping injections or blood glucose testing Combativeness

9. Depression And Anxiety in Specified Youth Conclusion There are many factors involved in the likelihood of adolescents with type 1 diabetes suffering from depression and anxiety. It is important to identify those most likely to suffer from these symptoms to be able to more quickly validate and hopefully prevent additional symptoms that the patients and families may experience. Through early prevention, there is hope that those already suffering from a chronic illness will not have more suffering to deal with and will be given the best possible care by the providers.

10. Depression And Anxiety in Specified Youth Early detection can save a life.