Ser diabético na família e na sociedade: a avaliação do adolescente em

Objective: To investigate the reality of adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus, in relation to their family and social life, in the municipality of Itajuba, state of Minas Gerais. Methods: The present study used a qualitative and transversal approach. For data collection, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 adolescents, 11 to 20 years old, of both genders, between the months of July and September of 2011. Results: A range of ideas was identified about adolescents living with the disease in the family context, they varied from “hard”, “bad”, “complicated”, “normal”, “good”, “accustomed to”, to “easy.” In relation to the social background of the disease, the results varied from “hard”, “normal”, “accustomed to”, “complicated”, “bad”, to “it depends on.” In both family and social contexts, the idea most frequently cited was “difficult”. Conclusions: the results highlight that, in the family, such difficulties are overcome when compared to the difficulties in the social context. It was possible to conclude that family support is crucial for the successful development of adolescents with diabetes facing problems of the disease.