Family responses to children with diabetes and their influence on self-care.

This study describes family responses to school-age children with diabetes and the influence of parents and siblings on self-care. Semistructured interviews of seven families living in a rural area of the Midwest were conducted. Major family responses included reminiscing about the time of diagnosis, changing the diet, scheduling daily routines, coping with and managing the diabetes, and worrying about insulin reactions. Mothers were the primary managers of the diabetes regimen. Blood-testing and self-injections were encouraged during less hurried times, particularly evenings and weekends.