A recent study shows that children with Type 1 diabetes who take care of a pet are better able to manage their blood sugar levels. Two factors were indentified in the study published in the PLOS ONE Journal. Children who have Type 1 diabetes and take care of pets have a greater family cohesion and are better at maintaining self-regulatory behavior.
In many cases, pets are considered part of the family. Caring for the pet, feeding them, cleaning them, taking them to the veterinarian for check-ups, are all part of daily duties and responsibilities. Choosing a healthy diet, maintaining proper hygiene, seeing a doctor regularly are all part of the care in maintaining diabetes.
Children with diabetes who take care of pets develop self-regulatory behaviors as well. Creating and sticking to a routine in caring for a pet helps children with diabetes develop healthy routines, according to the study. Checking blood sugar levels, sticking to a low-sugar, low carbohydrate diet and exercising on a regular basis are part of the self-regulatory habits that can benefit children with diabetes.
The study listed other benefits children with diabetes can develop through pet ownership. Having a pet can lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol levels, lower triglyceride levels and combat loneliness, according to the Nature World News. Pets can also encourage owners to exercise more regularly and increases the opportunities for socialization. It other words, pet owners can meet other pet owners with similar interests.
The study concluded that its data showed a positive relationship between active care of a household pet and achievement of glycemic control in pediatric patients with Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM).
“The identification of this relationship justifies conducting ongoing studies to identify the mechanisms mediating this association,” authors of the study stated. “While proposing that non-pet owning families adopt a dog or cat may be impractical, a child may benefit from responsible ownership of a fish or other low maintenance, inexpensive pet. Similarly, families that currently own a dog or cat may find that encouraging a shared responsibility of the pet with the child with diabetes could boost feelings of ownership and indirectly improve glycemic control. Associating self-care to the care of the family pet may bring about positive changes that may ultimately enhance the lives of the parents, the child and the pet.”
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