Life Stress and Diabetic Control in Children and Adolescents with Insulin-Dependent Diabetes

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Abstract
The present investigation explored the relationship between life stress, defined as undesirable life change, and multiple indices of diabetic control (e.g., fasting blood sugar, glycosylated hemoglobin Al, urine sugar, and urine ketones) in children and adolescents. Subjects were 141 children and adolescents with diabetes attending a summer camp. The results indicated that life stress was positively associated with urine ketones and that this relationship varied as a function of locus of control, sex, and age. The findings suggest a relationship between life stress and diabetic control and that negative life changes are most highly related to measures reflecting the breakdown of body fats in preadolescent populations.