THE DIABETIC CHILD

Abstract

Many articles on the significant interrelation between physical and mental health have appeared in the literature during the past decade. Consideration of the health of the integrated diabetic child seems to be an important application of this concept, since in diabetes mellitus many phases of the metabolism are disturbed over a long period. In this disease, moreover, the physical aspects appear to be especially intimately interwoven with development of the child's mind and personality. For instance, the strict adherence to a rigid routine would be likely to make a child feel different from others and perhaps despondent. It seems evident from the writings of Joslin,¹who during the past thirty-five years has stimulated interest and spread knowledge concerning the study and care of diabetic patients,¹that he considers and treats the whole diabetic person rather than merely the disease. He has expressed the desirability of gathering more complete