StenoChild is a clinical and organisational development project at Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen aimed at developing and testing a needs-oriented intervention for children with diabetes aged 3–9 years and their families. Take a view on how we work in the video above.
The project is based on the understanding that diabetes in families with young children can have a significant impact on everyday life, including meals, sleep, activities, and family dynamics. Many families experience increased stress, conflicts, and concerns related to diabetes management, which may affect both well-being and long-term disease management.
StenoChild explores how play-based and family-centred interventions can support children and parents in creating a positive everyday life with diabetes.
Project Approach
The project combines clinical, pedagogical, and behavioural approaches with a focus on:
- Age-appropriate involvement of children through play, activities, and peer communities
- Strengthening family competencies in managing everyday life with diabetes
- Peer-to-peer support and experience sharing between families
- Preventing conflicts and emotional burden related to diabetes care.
The intervention is informed by:
- Play-based methods from DiaStory
- Concepts related to mindful eating and mental well-being
- Group-based programmes for children and parents.
As part of the intervention, families participate in the group programme DiabetesRo, where children and parents work with themes such as meals, motivation, emotional well-being, and insulin administration. While parents participate in education sessions, peer support, and professional guidance, children engage in age-appropriate activities facilitated by an interdisciplinary team.
The play-based approach aims to help children relate to peers living with diabetes and process diabetes-related experiences on their own terms.
User Involvement and Interdisciplinary Collaboration
User involvement is a core element of the project design, and both children and families are continuously involved in the development and evaluation of the intervention.
The project is anchored across several departments at Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, including:
- Department of Diabetes Treatment
- Prevention, Health Promotion and Society
- Research Group for Children and Adolescents
- Evidence and Quality Improvement
- StenoChild is carried out in collaboration with:
- Mary Elizabeths Hospital
- Steno Diabetes Center Nord
- The Madro Institute
- Behavioural researcher Jossi Steen-Knudsen
Perspectives and Scaling Potential
The project runs from 2024–2027 and is part of the Steno Next Generation programme.
StenoChild has both national and international scaling potential — not only within paediatric diabetes care, but also as a model for family-centred interventions targeting children with other chronic conditions.
Throughout the project period, the intervention is evaluated through questionnaires, interviews, and clinical experiences to support further development and implementation.