Caregiver Burden and Associated Factors Among Caregivers of Children and Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Background: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) diagnosed in childhood and adolescence requires continuous management and intensive daily care, often placing substantial demands on caregivers. These demands may contribute to caregiver burden, which can negatively affect both caregiver well-being and patient management. To evaluate caregiving behaviors and identify factors associated with caregiver burden among caregivers of children and adolescents with T1DM. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in Brazil with 71 caregivers of children and adolescents with T1DM. Participants completed a sociodemographic questionnaire and the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI). Descriptive statistics were calculated, and associations between sociodemographic variables and caregiver burden were examined using ordinal logistic regression in R software. Results: Most caregivers were female (81.7%) and parents of the patient (85.9%). Mild to moderate burden was reported by 56.3% of caregivers, while 25.3% presented moderate to severe burden. Higher caregiver burden was significantly associated with longer working hours (31–40 h/week: OR = 10.59, p = 0.026; >40 h/week: OR = 20.91, p = 0.016) and having children (OR = 52.45, p = 0.018). Married or cohabiting caregivers were less likely to experience higher burden compared with single caregivers (OR = 0.08, p = 0.0017). A good or very good caregiver–patient relationship was also associated with lower burden levels (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Caregiver burden among caregivers of children and adolescents with T1DM is influenced by work demands, family structure, and the quality of the caregiver–patient relationship. Strategies aimed at strengthening social and family support systems may help reduce caregiver burden and improve disease management outcomes.