About half of young people with type 1 diabetes have recently used recreational drugs, and this may be affecting the control of their condition, a study suggests.
Among users of illicit drugs, the most commonly used substances were cannabis, ecstasy and speed.
Almost 30% of those surveyed were smokers and half were regular drinkers. Drug use also
appeared to be a significant and hidden contributor to poor diabetes control, according to the study published in the Internal Medicine Journal.
The use of drugs was significantly associated with poor glycaemic control and a higher risk of diabetic ketoacidosis, it found. Almost 20% of drug users omitted insulin before drug use and several ecstasy users said they needed to increase their insulin glargine dose by 100-150% to reduce hyperglycaemia.
However, only 7% of drug users with diabetes had informed health professionals about their drug use.
The study authors, from the Garvan Institute in Sydney, say medical staff should elicit a drug history from young diabetic patients in a non-judgemental way, and a drug screening questionnaire may need to be incorporated into routine diabetes care.
