AbstractThe diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, a life‐long disease with many possible complications, has a dramatic impact upon the entire family, precipitating a state of “shock.” We have studied for 17 years various psycho‐social aspects of “having diabetes mellitus” or having “a child with diabetes mellitus” in 550 families. The findings led to changes in the therapeutic approach and structure of the treating team. The psychological problems in diabetes should be divided in 3 periods: at diagnosis (other diseases or tension existing in the family and not related to diabetes, socioeconomic state); initial adaptation period (acceptance to be “different,” adjustment to rules of control such as daily injection of insulin, self blood glucose monitoring or urine testing, changing of nutritional habits, etc.), and long‐term coping (self image, family dynamics, social activities, school achievements, vocational rehabilitation and continuing compliance). Counselling of the psychological problems is an ongoing need and is best delivered when the treating team includes psychologists and social workers. We found evidence that this approach imptoves the quality of diabetes control, permits the young diabetic to live a normal life and diminishes the develop
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