Children and adolescents with diabetes: educational actions in the development of skills for self-care

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the process of building an orientation proposal for the care of type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, based on knowledge and skills in care practices for children, adolescents and their mothers. Methods: Qualitative, convergent-assistance study, with 16 children and adolescents diagnosed with type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, and their mothers, attended at an endocrinology outpatient clinic. Results: similar difficulties were identified between mothers and children regarding knowledge of the disease and care actions. This diagnosis supported the development of educational interventions. Conclusion: the participants did not have sufficient knowledge about the disease and care to ensure adequate control of diabetes. The construction of an educational proposal provided a horizontal and dialogic relationship between the researchers and the participants.