Children with type 1 diabetes find it difficult to stick to their drug routines at the weekend and during school holidays, a new study has found.

According to the findings, holiday distractions cause a 20% reduction in medicine adherence, which could have major consequences for their health.

The study followed the progress of almost 100 children aged between eight and 18 over a 12-month period.

"There was approximately a 20% reduction in treatment adherence during school holidays, weekends and public holidays in children with type 1 diabetes.

"As school holidays and weekends account for a significant amount of a calendar year, the impact of non-adherence to medical treatment in childhood has serious consequences for an individual's health, and substantially increases demand and expenditure on health systems," warned Dr Alexia Peña of the University of Adelaide in Australia.

She pointed out that a 25% reduction in adherence has already been shown to be linked with big increases in hospitalisation and mortality in adults with type 1 diabetes.

She emphasised the need for ‘targeted strategies' to enhance adherence during certain periods.

"Clinicians should be aware of adherence issues during holidays and weekends. Targeted reminders and additional strategies are necessary to improve adherence during these less structured periods for school children and their families. These will ensure benefit from their treatment especially in children with chronic conditions," Dr Peña said.

She added that this is the first such study of children with type 1 diabetes. However, similar adherence issues were found during a study of children with cystic fibrosis, ‘which suggests that these problems may extend to other chronic diseases'.

Details of these findings are published in the journal, Archives of Disease in Childhood.