Parents Advising Parents: Raising a Child with Type 1 Diabetes

• Main Author: Rasmuson, Becky Jean
• Format: Others
• Published: BYU ScholarsArchive 2017
• Subjects: Type 1 diabetes mellitus; insulin-dependent diabetes; parents; advice; school; healthcare provider; parent-child relationship; Nursing
• Online Access: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/6964; https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=7964&context=etd

Background and Purpose: Children diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes face significant challenges in the day to day management of their disease. Parents play an important role in supporting children at every stage of their lives and helping them transition to independence in the management of T1D. The purpose of this study was to learn from parents who have raised their children with T1D to adulthood and identify strategies for parents who are currently raising a child with T1D. Methods: Using a biographical method, a qualitative design, two in-depth interviews with open-ended prompts were completed with purposively selected parents of children with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) who have grown into adulthood (18 parents, 36 interviews). The first interview invited participants to share their experience raising a child with T1D. The second interview asked specific questions about challenges, things that went well, things that didn't go well and advice for parents currently raising a child with T1D. Qualitative content analysis was used. Results: Analysis of the data identified recommendations for parents currently raising children with T1D. Advice for the parents included, 1) Parental attitude toward diabetes will be reflected in the child – Keep it positive, 2) Learn as much as you can about diabetes, 3) Find a good diabetes provider – Make your endocrinologist your best friend, 4) Don't make diabetes the definition of the child – treat them as normal, 5) Empower self-management – Teach them along the way then step back and let them take over, 6) Be your child's advocate, 7) Find support – Formal or informal, 8) Listen to your child – Don't judge. Conclusions and Implications: Nurses and nurse practitioners can share strategies identified by parents that were helpful in raising their child with Type 1 Diabetes.