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International declarations
International diabetes federation’s philosophy on childhood and adolescent diabetes
In 1992 the IDF in recognising the special needs of children and adolescents with diabetes established a Task Force working closely with ISPAD (formerly ISGD) and as a result formulated the following philosophy, accepted as policy by both IDF and ISPAD.
“As they grow, children and adolescents with diabetes have special and changing needs. These needs must be recognised and addressed by the general public and health professionals alike. While their dependence on insulin and their need for food and appropriate nutrition is the same as IDDM adults, there are major physiological, medical, psychological, social and emotional differences.
These differences arise from the stages of growth and development through which young people pass. Babes in arms, toddlers, school children and adolescents with their developing independence must each be considered differently. Children are not self-sufficient, they depend on their family and are strongly influenced by their immediate surrounding (i.e. their home, siblings, peers). When diabetes mellitus occurs in childhood, it has the potential to be profoundly destructive of normal individual and family relationships.
All young people with diabetes have the right to competent medical management and diabetes education by a team of individuals who have expertise in and an understanding of the medical and psychosocial needs of young people and their families. A child cannot fight for these rights. It is, therefore, the responsibility of society to provide all necessary support to the child and the family: This should include medical, social, public, governmental and industrial resources and efforts.”
ISPAD Task Force: Lorna Mellor, Harold Rifkin, Margaret McGill, Martin Sillink
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