A 16-year-old boy with Type 1 Diabetes visits the clinic with his mother, who expresses concern that he is not managing his diabetes well. She found candy wrappers in his room, and his blood glucose logs show consistently high readings. What could be the potential issue, and what is the next step?
It appears this teenager may be struggling with adherence to his diabetes management plan, potentially due to the challenges of managing a chronic condition like Type 1 Diabetes during adolescence. Frequent high blood sugar readings, coupled with evidence of excessive candy consumption, suggest dietary non-compliance and possible insulin omission. The next step would be a thorough discussion about the importance of good glycemic control, potential barriers he is facing, and strategies for improvement. It may be helpful to involve a diabetes educator or a psychologist experienced in chronic disease management in adolescents.