OBJECTIVETo survey the quality of life in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

METHODSNinety-eight children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes who participated in Diabetes Summer Camp held in Chongqing, Wuhan and Cheng during 2012 April and December were recruited in the study. The American juvenile diabetes patients quality of life scale Diabetes Quality of Life for Youths was used to assess the quality of life and SPSS19.0 was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTSThe scale had satisfactory reliability and validity with a Cronbach's Alpha score of 0.942 and a validity score of 0.679. All three dimension of scales: scales of impact, scales of worries and scales of satisfaction were significantly correlated with self-health assessment (P<0.01). The scores of impact and worries accounted for >50% of total scores as the same for the self health assessment scores. The score of disease course, diet and blood glucose control were positive correlated with each other. Age and HbA1c were positively correlated with the scale of impact, while gender has negative correlation with satisfaction scale (P<0.05). The diabetes diet had significant effects on the quality of life.

CONCLUSIONThe quality of life in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes is decreased, especially for those with longer disease course and female adolescents. The form of Diabetes Quality of Life for Youth used in the study has good reliability and validity, which can reflect the quality of life of Chinese diabetic children and adolescents.