Eureka! Institutional Repository

Abstract Background: Diabetes mellitus type 1 is increased worldwide nowadays. Adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus, have to face a number of demands in order to achieve good glycemic control and therefor to eliminate the risk of chronic complications. Diabetes mellitus during puberty predispose to eating disorders, which affect negatively the quality of adolescents΄life Objective: In present study is investigated the prevalence of eating disorders and the relationship with quality of life among adolescent population with type 1 diabetes mellitus, in North Greece. Methods: Α total of 49 adolescent, 26 girls and 23 boys, with type 1 diabetes aged 12-19 years participated in the study. Measures included the Diabetic Eating Problem Survey- Revised (DEPS-R), the m-scoff questionnaire for eating disorders, the PedsQol, diabetic module version 3.0 for the evaluation of quality of life and the Rosenberg self-esteem. Results: A total of 21,67% of the whole sample reported to have a type of disturbed eating behavior. A total of 81% of the whole sample have self-esteem and a total of 75,5% have a good quality of life. Quality of life is affected positively by the administration of insulin via pump, in diabetic adolescents, but it is negatively affected by the omission of insulin and by disturbed eating behavior. Omission of insulin is a common practice among diabetic adolescents, in order not to gain weight and it is reported in 65,38 % of girls and in 56,52% of boys of the sample. Discussion: Adolescents with diabetes mellitus type 1 have increased prevalence of eating disorders and so detailed screening is recommended for early detection and intervention of these adolescents. Quality of life is reported to be good in majority of young with type 1 diabetes mellitus.