Partnerships with providers: reflections from parents of children with type 1 diabetes.

Sixty-three parents with a child or an adolescent with type 1 diabetes participated in this study that focused on what helped them "live well with diabetes." Beyond medical expertise, parents described a partnering relationship with their provider as one of the factors that supported their efforts to live well with diabetes. Parents reported that a partnership was enhanced when the provider had the ability to understand the dynamic nature of the journey in living with diabetes, connect with their family and set the tone by inviting them to openly communicate about all aspects of family life impacting diabetes care, recognize when and how the provider may have to assume the role of Captain of the Ship in times of need, and empathize and respond therapeutically to intense emotions inherent in managing diabetes over time.

Parental expectations in the care of their children and adolescents with diabetes.

There is little research about what parents of children with diabetes want and need from their health-care providers as they negotiate life with diabetes. Sixty-three parents of children with type 1 diabetes were interviewed. Interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed verbatim, and a content analysis of text data was conducted.

Managing psychosocial issues in a family with diabetes.

Managing diabetes in a child or teen requires constant attention and adjustment of insulin, carbohydrate intake, and activity level. Intensive diabetes management has the potential to improve diabetes outcomes; however, negotiating the many lifestyle accommodations essential to optimal diabetes control can place a significant burden on some children and families. Parenting a child with diabetes also involves a complex process of helping the child to achieve age-appropriate independence while assuring the child's safety in managing his or her diabetes.

Parents' perceptions of factors that affect successful diabetes management for their children.

Objective: To learn which factors parents perceive to be most influential in determining successful type 1 diabetes management.

Methods: A 4-stage mixed qualitative-quantitative method that consists of a series of focus groups, a survey, and in-depth interviews was used to ensure that parents generated, prioritized, and explained their own ideas. In each stage, parents offered a new level of insight into their perception of how children achieve good metabolic control while living as normal a life as possible.