Parent and child perceptions of the management of juvenile diabetes

Interviews were conducted with 34 children, ages 8 to 17, withinsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and their parents. Theirresponses to questions about responsibility for disease managementwere compared with each other and with independent medical staffevaluations of parent and child coping, staff evaluations ofregimen compliance, biochemical indices of metabolic control,and parental estimates of metabolic control. Results suggestedthat (a) parents and children attached particular significanceto giving insulin injections as an indication of children'sindependence in diabetes management; (b) diet management wasa frequent source of parent-child conflict and was highly relatedto coping; (c) age at diabetes onset was a factor in adaptingto regimen; and (d) parents' views of metabolic control differedfrom those of professionals.