title: [Type I diabetes mellitus in childhood and adolescence].
abstract: Type I diabetes, the most common endocrinological disease in children and adolescents, is nowadays considered to be a genetically linked autoimmune disease. Clinical progression is divided into 3 phases: initial, remission and post-remission. Therapy consists of ketoacidotic compensation (when necessary), initial insulin dose adjustment, an organised education programme, and conventional insulin treatment with a mixture of normal and long-acting human insulins. Older children and adolescents (from age 12, or better, from age 14) are mostly treated with intensive conventional insulin therapy (ICT). The necessary long-term care of children and adolescents with diabetes should be carried out by a pediatric diabetic team. This team is in the position to recognise the special age-related problems in these patients and, based on adequate experience, can guarantee the best possible treatment. The aim must be the optimal, virtually near-normoglycaemic metabolic control already in childhood so as to avoid the threat of diabetic complications or at least to delay their onset.
authors.affiliation: Zentrum für Kinderheilkunde und Jugendmedizin, Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt am Main.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Herwig
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D003927:Diet, Diabetic / Q000523:psychology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011379:Prognosis; D012803:Sick Role
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin