Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes: Improving Education About High-Risk Behaviors

Studies have demonstrated that teens are more likely to participate in high-risk behaviors than other age groups. These behaviors include the use of alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs, as well as engaging in unprotected sex and disordered eating. Adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) who participate in these behaviors are at greater risk for disease complications. T1D is one of the most common chronic diseases among adolescents and can lead to devastating health complications if not properly managed. Studies have shown that adolescents with T1D are more likely to engage in disordered eating than their nondiabetic peers. Such behaviors include fasting, bulimia, diuretic abuse, and omission of insulin in order to lose weight. Eating disorders can lead to negative health consequences in any population, but teens with T1D are at a much greater risk for immediate and long-term complications due to their condition. The project objectives were to (a) gather information regarding health consequences of high-risk behavior in the T1D population and develop a short educational video; (b) evaluate the effectiveness of the video through the administration of a questionnaire to a convenience sample of teens with T1D; and (c) prepare the video for dissemination to the public on the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) website and submit an abstract to the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP), with expectations to present at their national conference in March 2017. A review of literature focused on adolescents' participation in high-risk behaviors, particularly disordered eating. The incidence of eating disorders is more than twice as likely in teens with T1D than those without. Complications include hypoglycemia, hypoglycemic seizures, hyperglycemia, and diabetic ketoacidosis, as well as chronic complications such as organ damage and cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, studies have shown that the majority of teens with T1D feel they have received inadequate education regarding these risks. A video outlining the dangers of eating disorders for individuals with T1D was created with the assistance of a multimedia professional. Following IRB approval, parental permission, and participant assent, a convenience sample of 14 adolescents was obtained. The video was shared and a questionnaire administered. A Likert scale was used, which allowed for objective evaluation of the project's effectiveness. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the questionnaire results. The majority of participants conveyed that (a) they did not feel they had been previously educated regarding the risks of eating disorders by their health care providers or diabetes educators; (b) the video helped improve their knowledge of the presented topic; and (c) audiovisual learning materials were preferred to other methods of education. In summary, this project aims to provide teens with T1D improved education regarding the health consequences of eating disorders through the use of age-appropriate and population-specific learning materials. Public dissemination of the learning materials will help to promote safer behaviors and minimize negative health consequences in this vulnerable population.