At what age do diabetic children give their own injections?

E. Naughten, M. A. Smith and J. D. Baum

The age at which diabetic children gave themselves insulin injections (injection independence) was investigated by analysis of the notes on 66 children who attend the Oxford (England) Paediatric Diabetic Clinic. The mean age of injection independence was found to be 11.2 years (SD, 2.2 years). Sex, rank in the family, and family experience of diabetes had no effect on the age of injection independence. A group of 11 children were identified as being "late injectors," having not gained injection independence by the age of 14 years. No psychiatric or adverse psychosocial factors were found that distinguished this group from the 45 children who could give their own injections by this age.