Abstract
ObjectiveWe provide a population-based overview of health behaviours of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes in comparison to the general population, and analyse their relevance for glycaemic control and self-rated health status.MethodsData from questionnaires of 11- to 17-year-old children and adolescents with diabetes (n = 629) were compared to a representative sample (n = 6,813).ResultsChildren and adolescents with type 1 diabetes had a significantly increased odds of infrequent physical activity (adjusted OR 1.56), short overall duration of physical activity per week (OR 1.55, difference -1.3 hours/week), and high daily computer use (OR 2.51). They had a lower odds of active and passive smoking (OR 0.31 and OR 0.29), and high daily television time (OR 0.68). The odds of an at least good and excellent self-rated health status was increased with intense physical activity, and decreased with active smoking and prolonged daily use of computer and television. Active smoking and prolonged daily use of computer were associated with higher HbA1c.ConclusionsChildren and adolescents with type 1 diabetes showed a different profile of health behaviour. Their overall health may improve if their education stresses specifically frequent physical activity with longer overall duration and less frequent television or computer use.
Highlights
Long-term prognosis in type 1 diabetes improves with good glycaemic control in childhood and adolescence [1]
[5] Smoking negatively affects type 1 diabetes management and increases the risk especially for long-term sequelae of diabetes mellitus [6,7]. It was shown in a clinical sample of youths with type 1 diabetes that daily media consumption time is a significant risk factor for poor glycaemic control [8]
Our objective is to provide a population-based overview of health-relevant behaviours and their association with glycaemic control and self-rated health status in children and adolescents with early-onset and long-duration type 1 diabetes in comparison to peers from the general population in Germany
Summary
Long-term prognosis in type 1 diabetes improves with good glycaemic control in childhood and adolescence [1]. On the tissue level, exercise results in beneficial effects, e.g. on pancreas, cardiovascular system, the kidneys, and skeletal muscle [5] Smoking negatively affects type 1 diabetes management and increases the risk especially for long-term sequelae of diabetes mellitus [6,7]. It was shown in a clinical sample of youths with type 1 diabetes that daily media consumption time is a significant risk factor for poor glycaemic control [8]. There is no population-based study to date that has compared these health behaviours between children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes and the general population
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