Rehabilitation Of Children And Adolescents With Diabetes In Austria: Concept Of The Austrian Working Group For Paediatric Diabetes And Endocrinology And The Austrian Society Of Paediatrics Version 1: October 2020

Diabetes is one of the most common chronic metabolic diseases in childhood and adolescence. In the last decade there has been a steep increase in the number of new cases. At more than 90%, type 1 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes in children and adolescents; therefore, the present concept refers to children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Since 2016, the first rehabilitation centres have been available for children and adolescents in Austria. Rehabilitation is required if problems regarding diabetes are no longer manageable in an ambulant setting or even when there are difficulties with schooling and education because of diabetes, and is therefore an important part of the care of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. The present concept was developed by members of the Austrian Working Group for Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes (APEDo) in collaboration with the leaders of the rehabilitation clinics and the Austrian Society of Paediatrics (oGKJ). The concept comprises indications and contraindications for diabetes rehabilitation, defines the aims of the rehabilitation for different age-groups (toddlers, school children and adolescents) and gives an overview of the recommended requirements for the local multidisciplinary rehabilitation team. The APEDo/oGKJ rehabilitation concept serves as a starting point. The plans for rehabilitation remain the responsibility of each centre and should lead to optimisation and harmonisation through communication during regular meetings.