Pet Ownership and Glucose Control in Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) affects 151,000 children and adolescents in the United
States. Youth with T1DM are at a high risk for multiple psychosocial co-morbidities
including poor health related quality of life (HRQoL) which is linked to medication
non-compliance and increased risk for diabetes-related complications. Any reduction in the
psychosocial adjustment difficulties related to T1DM could improve the medical outcome of
children with T1DM.

Current standards for diabetes management reflect the need to maintain glucose control
within a normal range. However, numerous reports indicate that normalization of blood
glucose levels is seldom attainable in children and adolescents. Family cohesion, positive
coping strategies, younger age of onset, social support and adequate self-regulatory
behavior are found to favorably influence glycemic control. One may conclude that the
presence of a companion animal, capable of enhancing the positive factors named above, would
augment the array of tools available for the successful management of chronic illnesses such
as T1DM.

There is a lack of studies assessing the impact of pet ownership on the health and
well-being of adolescents. The process of caring for, loving and being loved by a companion
animal could offer direct and/or indirect benefits to the HRQoL in children with T1DM. To
the investigators' knowledge, there are no studies examining the impact of pet ownership on
glycemic control and HRQoL in youth with T1DM.

Inclusion Criteria:

- English-speaking patients

- 10 to 18 years

- diagnosed with type 1 diabetes for at least 12 months

- poor diabetes control as defined by having a hemoglobin A1c value > 8%

Exclusion Criteria:

- type 2 diabetes

- developmental delay

- current participation in another study that may impact glycemic control