The youth clinic

The Youth Clinic, for young people from 16 to 20 years with diabetes, is part of the outpatient clinic. It runs once every six weeks on a Wednesday from 14:00 to 20:00; people meet to share experiences and make new friends.

Young people with diabetes
Puberty can present particular difficulties for young people with diabetes. The need for insulin increases and the physical and psychosocial changes in the youngsters’ lives mean that the diabetes treatment needs to be frequently adjusted. The clinic was set up to help adolescents and their parents with the problems specifically related to diabetes during puberty. It has a team of specialist practitioners, and each young person has his or her personal practitioner.

Taking responsibility for their own treatment
The practitioners in the multidisciplinary team work towards getting the young people to accept they do have an illness, but that it can be treated. They aim to gain the youngsters’ confidence and to motivate them to take responsibility for their lives, especially in relation to diabetes.
Education in diabetes, its symptoms and treatment; and instruction in how to inject themselves and monitor blood glucose is aimed at empowering the youngsters to take responsibility and make informed decisions about their treatment.

Events
During the opening hours of the clinic, usually around 16:00, the practitioners put on an “event”. The event deals with topics relevant to youngsters with diabetes, for example, hypoglycaemia, parties, alcohol, contraception and subsidies for blood glucose monitoring apparatus. Often, sweets and potato crisps are handed round; this paves the way for a discussion about confectionery and other snacks.

Consultations and other arrangements
Parents attend the consultation when considered necessary, usually only the first few times. The clinic arranges an annual meeting for adult relatives; this begins with a diabetes-related talk, which is followed by a discussion.

Research
The clinic collaborates with other units in Denmark treating children and adolescents with diabetes. They collate information about new cases of diabetes and carry out quality control of the diabetes treatment.

Counselling
Members of the various professional groups offer counselling within their specialist area. Appointments must be made. See the list of health professionals in the menu on the left.