Current Scientific Evidence on the Impact of Type 1 Diabetes in Childhood

Abstract

Introduction: Managing Type 1 Diabetes goes beyond glycemic control and requires interdisciplinary care to enable patients to self-manage their disease, prevent acute decompensation, and reduce the risk of chronic complications. It has a significant impact on patients' lifestyles and self-esteem. The way in which this disease is managed is influenced by both a person's psychological characteristics and their social relationships.

Objectives: To analyze the current scientific evidence on the impact of type 1 diabetes in children. 

Materials and Method: Design: Systematic review in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Guidelines. Procedure: The information was synthesized and analyzed by a panel of experts, and the evidence published to date was collected: from 2018 to March 2025. Languages: Spanish, English. Cumulative search in the evidence-based medicine databases EBM, PubMed, and Embase. 

Results: Of 434 evidences analyzed (295 in PubMed), 21 articles (17 key articles) were selected. After reviewing the 17 selected articles, four thematic categories emerged: Susceptibility to environmental factors, Pediatric age: significant increase in its global incidence, new challenges: Psychosocial factors and T1D, and Current quality of life in T1D. 

Conclusions: Patients with T1D are at risk for anxiety, life stress, and clinical depression. An inverse relationship has been found
between TD self-management and the presence of psychological complications.