Clinical care of the patient with diabetes. What is the role of the diabetes professional?

A review of diabetes management problems will be presented from the biased perspective of children and adolescents with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), their families, and the team of professionals who attempt to provide broadly based quality care to ensure that these young people move into effective adult life with minimal physical and/or emotional disability from the disease or its management. Although there are many unique aspects of diabetes in the child and adolescent, it is expected that recommendations for future care of this group of patients will, in most cases, have direct relevance to management issues to most patients with IDDM.