They also scored better on quality of life measurements, including reporting fewer worries about their diabetes. If the gains can be maintained, they can expect a 25 percent reduction in long term complications, such as blindness and renal failure. In this next phase of the study, Grey will follow the original participants for an additional four years as they enter young adulthood to test the long-term benefits of the intervention. She will also offer the coping skills training to pre-adolescents with diabetes and their parents. Finally, the study will examine the costs and benefits of intensive therapy and coping skills training.
Intensive therapy is the practice of bringing blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible.
For most children and adolescents, that means three or more injections of insulin a day or insulin pump therapy, four to six glucose tests and counting of carbohydrate intake. Though intensive therapy is now standard with children because research has shown that it reduces long-term problems, it becomes difficult when patients enter adolescence. In fact, prior to Grey's coping skills study, research consistently showed that even attempting intensive therapy with adolescents actually made diabetes worse. Factors ranging from resentment of parental control over scheduling injections to fear of appearing strange in front of their friends can prevent adolescents from taking the necessary steps to manage their diabetes, Grey said. For example, drinking alcohol affects blood sugar.