Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus from the Perspective of Adolescents Receiving Care in Endocrinology Units of a Referral Hospital in Southern Brazil

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DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5020/23590777.rs.v25i2.e16959

Keywords:

adolescence, diabetes mellitus, chronic diseases, psychoanalysis

Abstract

Type 1 diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease that frequently manifests during adolescence. Living with a chronic condition during a life stage marked by multidimensional changes, such as adolescence, has been associated with increased psychological distress and the intensification of conflicts typical of this period. Accordingly, this study aimed to understand how adolescents diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus perceive their illness. A qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive study was conducted. A total of adolescents aged 12-17 years, receiving outpatient care at the endocrinology units of a referral hospital in southern Brazil, participated in the study. Data collection instruments included a sociodemographic questionnaire and a semi-structured interview guide. The interviews were audio-recorded and fully transcribed for analysis. Data were processed using descending hierarchical classification provided by the IRaMuTeQ® software, which organizes textual data into word classes based on statistical significance. The material was interpreted using thematic categorical analysis and a psychoanalytic theoretical framework. Six thematic categories were identified: i) being normal and being different, addressing the impact on identity construction and group belonging; ii) dealing with external control, focusing on the effects of parental control; iii) disease acceptance and the development of self-care, addressing adaptation to the diabetes care routine; iv) glycemic variability and its relationship with emotional factors, examining the influence of emotions on glycemic fluctuations; v) the process of separation from parents and the development of autonomy, addressing the transfer of care responsibility from parents to adolescents; and vi) adopting a healthier lifestyle after diabetes, addressing lifestyle changes following diagnosis. The findings indicate that the disease affects how adolescence is experienced, intensifying the challenges inherent to this developmental stage. However, its impact can be mitigated when adolescents and their families position themselves as active participants in treatment and disease management.

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Author Biographies

Larissa Rossi Silva, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil

Holds a degree in Psychology from the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná (PUCPR). Has experience in public policy, having worked as an intern at the Court of Justice of the State of Paraná (TJPR) and at the Specialized Reference Center for Social Assistance (CREAS) in the city of Ibiporã, Paraná.

Pricila Paveukiewicz , Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil

Holds a degree in Psychology from UFPR (2009). Completed a lato sensu specialization in Clinical Psychology with a Psychoanalytic Approach at PUCPR (2014). Holds a Master of Arts in Psychoanalytic Studies from Birkbeck, University of London (2022). Has professional experience in Psychology, Hospital Psychology, and Clinical Psychology. Currently works as a psychologist at the outpatient clinic of the Pediatric Endocrinology Unit of the Clinical Hospital Complex of UFPR (HC-UFPR), providing care to children and adolescents.

Camila Cardoso Rauen, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil

Holds a degree in Psychology from PUCPR (2002). Completed postgraduate training at the Institute of Psychology, University of São Paulo (USP; 2004) in the Treatment and Schooling of Children with Pervasive Developmental Disorders, and a postgraduate program in Neuropsychological Assessment and Rehabilitation (2020) at the Sapiens Instituto de Psicologia. Holds a master’s degree and is currently a doctoral candidate in Health Promotion in Childhood and Adolescence at HC-UFPR. Has professional experience in both private practice and public services in the fields of health and education, with a primary focus on the psychological aspects of childhood and adolescence. Currently a member of the psychology team at the Clinical Hospital Complex of UFPR, working in the outpatient clinics of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Neuropediatrics, as well as serving as a preceptor in the Multiprofessional Residency Program in Hospital Health Care for Children and Adolescents.

Gustavo Manoel Schier Dória , Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil

Holds a medical degree from the Evangelical Faculty of Paraná (1985), Earned a MSc in Psychiatry from USP in 1999 and a PhD in the Graduate Program in Child and Adolescent Health in the Department of Pediatrics at UFPR in 2011, with the dissertation entitled “Assessment of Psychiatric Disorders in Adolescents in Conflict with the Law.”.

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Published

2025-11-30

How to Cite

Silva, L. R., Paveukiewicz , P., Rauen, C. C., & Dória , G. M. S. (2025). Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus from the Perspective of Adolescents Receiving Care in Endocrinology Units of a Referral Hospital in Southern Brazil. Revista Subjetividades, 25(2), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.5020/23590777.rs.v25i2.e16959

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Research Report