ABSTRACT
Diabetes mellitus type 1 (DM1) is one of the chronic diseases that most affects children and
adolescents. Adolescence is marked by the transition from childhood to adulthood, through a
fast physical and biopsychosocial development. Adolescents with diabetes require education
for the proper management of treatment and care. This research aimed to develop an
educational technology (website) to stimulate the self-care of adolescents with type 1
diabetes. It was a methodological study conducted in four stages: vision and planning,
becoming familiar with the reality of subjects, design, and elaboration of the prototype.
Participants comprised 16 adolescents and six professionals (doctor, nurse, nutritionist, and
physiotherapist). Data collection took place from March to May 2016 at the Integrated
Diabetes and Hypertension Center through semi-structured interview. Data were submitted to
the Content Analysis technique, and the results are presented in five categories: 1)
Educational activities among adolescents with diabetes mellitus type 1: perspective of the
multiprofessional team and adolescents; 2) Interactions between adolescents and
professionals: influences on care; 3) Coping in adolescents with type 1 diabetes and family
support; 4) Use of information technologies by adolescents with type 1 diabetes; 5)
Communication and usability of the educational website according to the multiprofessional
team and adolescents. Experiences of adolescents with diabetes and the professionals who
assist them provide essential aspects that guide the care and control of the disease; the
feelings of adolescents represented by fear and pain associated with insulin injection and
capillary glycemia. The website design constructed was called “DM1 in focus”, and it was
based on these contents and the reviewed literature. Its drafting consists of the following
sections: Presentation; Diabetes mellitus type 1; Healthy eating; Glycemic balance; Insulin
management; Physical activity; Diabetes and the world; Family importance on the treatment;
and Hygiene control and skin and foot care. It was concluded that developing an educational
technology that privileges the needs of the subjects and professional experiences will provide
safe access and knowledge acquisition for the care.
Keywords: Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. Adolescent health. Health education.
