When a family learns their
child has insulin-dependent
type 1 diabetes mellitus,
or type 1 diabetes,
shock and anxiety are quickly followed
by the reality of the demands of
managing the condition. The news
comes with the responsibilities of daily
injections or continuous insulin infusion,
blood glucose monitoring 2 to 4
times a day, regimented meal planning,
and intensive planning of daily
activities. Child and family adaptation
following the initial diagnosis varies.
Like many chronic illnesses, type 1
diabetes can have long-term effects
on the child, family, and health care
providers who must offer support in a
number of ways. Nurses need to integrate
scientific knowledge with assessments
of family composition, stress
response, child developmental level,
and family resources. Synthesis of
complex data is critical for proper
teaching and support of the family.
Research to date includes many
reports of factors influencing parents’
and health care providers’ reports of
child adaptation, but very few reports
of children’s perceptions of their adap