Family interaction in pediatric diabetes.

Adaptation to type 1 diabetes is optimized in the presence of ongoing family support and supervision. Therefore, it is particularly important to understand how family interactions influence adaptation to the illness. The purpose of this paper is to review the current literature on family interaction in youth with type 1 diabetes. Recent advancements in the literature include greater specificity of types of parental involvement, attention to the role of fathers, acknowledgment of the impact of parental distress, increased use of observational methods, and awareness of the impact of culture. Continued parental involvement-particularly monitoring-in the management of diabetes care is important as children transition into adolescence, and the best outcomes are evident when this involvement occurs in a warm, collaborative manner. Parents need support in managing their own distress to maintain this type of involvement.