From the perspective of diabetes practice: young adults with type 1 diabetes
Young adults with type 1 diabetes largely bear the responsibility for their diabetes therapy themselves; at the same time, they enjoy newfound freedoms and are more open to take risks. Living alone, partnership, university, job and other developmental tasks place high demands on them. These are often difficult to reconcile with a qualified diabetes therapy.
After many years of personal attachment to the team of a pediatric diabetes center, the transition to an internal diabetes specialist practice is not always smooth. Individual psychological stresses and inadequate diabetes management reinforce each other. At this stage of life, diabetes embodies exactly the opposite of everything that is age-appropriate. It demands a structured daily routine, disciplined nutrition, regular visits to the diabetologist, and forward thinking and action. The analysis of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) data in the diabetes practice allows detailed insights into personal everyday life and can be associated with feelings of shame and guilt.
The aim of long-term diabetes care is to consider all these aspects - current quality of life, personal goals, avoidance of acute diabetes complications and prevention of long-term cardiovascular complications - and to develop an individual treatment concept from this in a participatory manner. The most important task of the diabetes practice is to support young people on their individual path, to recognize their strengths and to motivate them through successes.
