ABSTRACT
Diabetes is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in children, and its frequency is on the rise. Diabetic children must receive insulin from an external source by daily injections or via an insulin pump, so as to keep their glycemic levels balanced. The nature of diabetes, as well as of other chronic illnesses, requires parents to be closely involved. In effect, with smaller children, a good glycemic balance is often achieved because the parents can control the daily monitoring of sugar levels and administration of insulin. Parents are often relieved when hearing that vigilant care is not an attempt to control the child, but to increase their parental presence. Three special tools in vigilant care in diabetes are: planned text messages, "diabetes talks" and reminders. The chief variables in the study are: family conflict around the illness; parental vigilant care; parental helplessness; parental anchoring; child motivation and diabetes management skills; and diabetes self-care.
