Developing Autonomy in Primary School Aged Children with Type 1 Diabetes

Abstract

This review considers literature on the self-care of children with type 1 diabetes and applies it to the primary school classroom. It reports that by allowing children to have self-care with their health at an early age, they develop a healthy foundation for lifelong health. This review found that children with type 1 diabetes are able to provide self-care when they develop the cognitive skills to understand how to control their condition, along with social and emotional development to be able to cope within the social environment. It is shown that when care-givers and children monitor the condition closely, better control is achieved resulting in less long-term health problems.