Self-Care Among Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Bearing People: Adolescents' Experience

Objective: This study aimed to identify the adolescents' experiences in the management of diabetes mellitus, regarding self-care. Methods: It is a descriptive research with a predominantly qualitative approach, which was carried out in a referral hospital in the assistance to patients with diabetes mellitus, located in Fortaleza city, Ceara State, Brazil. Fourteen adolescents bearing diabetes mellitus, within an age group from 12 to 18 years old, have participated in the study through semi-structured interviews. Results: The interviews were submitted to content analysis in order to identify the categories. After analysis, the following three thematic categories emerged: the first is related to patients who have demonstrated adherence to self-care; the second regarding the dilemmas of being an adolescent with diabetes; and the third concerning the actions of health professionals and the patients' relatives for the self-care management of adolescents. Conclusion: This research performed with adolescents bearing diabetes has revealed the importance of supported self-care as an instrument that can be worked out by both professionals and family, thus encouraging the treatment adherence.