When we think about keeping teens with diabetes safe, we may think about preventing low blood glucose or making sure they have supplies with them at all times. We want to be sure they are taking insulin when they need it and checking blood glucose levels. Have they changed their pump infusion set? Do they have unexpired ketone strips and glucagon kit readily available?
But how often do we think about preconception counseling? What if they’re not even sexually active? Denise Charron-Prochownik has been studying teens with diabetes and preconception counseling for a while. She and her colleagues conducted a study with over one hundred teens who have diabetes. Results showed that with a self-administered preconception counseling program, girls with diabetes are more knowledgeable and more willing to discuss reproductive health with health care professionals.
The researchers gave the following quote: “READY-Girls appeared to have long-term sustaining effects on preconception counseling knowledge, beliefs, and intentions to initiate discussion with health care providers that could improve reproductive health behaviors and outcomes.”