Health behaviour in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes compared to a representative reference population.
OBJECTIVE
We provide a population-based overview of health behaviours of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes in comparison to the general population, and analyse their relevance for glycaemic control and self-rated health status.


METHODS
Data from questionnaires of 11- to 17-year-old children and adolescents with diabetes (n = 629) were compared to a representative sample (n = 6,813).


RESULTS
Children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes had a significantly increased odds of infrequent physical activity (adjusted OR 1.56), short overall duration of physical activity per week (OR 1.55, difference -1.3 hours/week), and high daily computer use (OR 2.51). They had a lower odds of active and passive smoking (OR 0.31 and OR 0.29), and high daily television time (OR 0.68). The odds of an at least good and excellent self-rated health status was increased with intense physical activity, and decreased with active smoking and prolonged daily use of computer and television. Active smoking and prolonged daily use of computer were associated with higher HbA1c.


CONCLUSIONS
Children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes showed a different profile of health behaviour. Their overall health may improve if their education stresses specifically frequent physical activity with longer overall duration and less frequent television or computer use.
Department of General Pediatrics, Neonatology and Pediatric Cardiology, University Children's Hospital, Duesseldorf, Germany.
Sebastian
S
Kummer
Institute for Biometrics and Epidemiology, German Diabetes Center (DDZ), Leibniz Institute for Diabetes Research at Heinrich Heine University, Duesseldorf, Germany.
Anna
A
Stahl-Pehe
Institute for Biometrics and Epidemiology, German Diabetes Center (DDZ), Leibniz Institute for Diabetes Research at Heinrich Heine University, Duesseldorf, Germany.
Katty
K
Castillo
Institute for Biometrics and Epidemiology, German Diabetes Center (DDZ), Leibniz Institute for Diabetes Research at Heinrich Heine University, Duesseldorf, Germany.
Christina
C
Bächle
Institute of Movement and Neurosciences, German Sport University, Cologne, Germany.
Christine
C
Graf
Institute for Biometrics and Epidemiology, German Diabetes Center (DDZ), Leibniz Institute for Diabetes Research at Heinrich Heine University, Duesseldorf, Germany.
Klaus
K
Straßburger
Department of Paediatrics, Cambridge University, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Burak
B
Salgin
Department of General Pediatrics, Neonatology and Pediatric Cardiology, University Children's Hospital, Duesseldorf, Germany.
Ertan
E
Mayatepek
Institute for Biometrics and Epidemiology, German Diabetes Center (DDZ), Leibniz Institute for Diabetes Research at Heinrich Heine University, Duesseldorf, Germany.
Guido
G
Giani
Institute for Epidemiology and Medical Biometry, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
Reinhard W
RW
Holl
Department of General Pediatrics, Neonatology and Pediatric Cardiology, University Children's Hospital, Duesseldorf, Germany.
Thomas
T
Meissner
Institute for Biometrics and Epidemiology, German Diabetes Center (DDZ), Leibniz Institute for Diabetes Research at Heinrich Heine University, Duesseldorf, Germany.
Joachim
J
Rosenbauer
D000293:Adolescent; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D001786:Blood Glucose