Parents and kids talking about diabetes and supporting each other is important. Diabetes can be an overwhelming chronic illness to manage because there ™s so much that needs to be done every day, Opipari-Arrigan says.

The study authors will continue to follow the families through September. Every three months, the families return to the clinic for a chance to meet up with each other and refresh the information they ™ve learned. For many families, this is the first time they ™ve interacted with other children or parents of children with diabetes.

The study was funded by the Michigan Department of Community Health. In addition to Opipari-Arrigan, study authors were research fellow Jessica Kichler, research fellow Emily Fredericks, nurse practitioner Nugget Burkhart, clinical care coordinator Linda Dale, research assistant Sally Eder, research fellow Alan Silverman, clinical professor of Pediatric Critical Care Susan L. Bratton, M .D., MPH, and professor of Pediatric Endocrinology Carol Foster, M.D., all from the UMHS Department of Pediatrics.

Diabetes is a disorder in which the body cannot convert foods properly into the energy needed for daily activities. Diabetes tends to get passed on genetically but factors other than heredity are responsible as well. There are two main types of diabetes. Type I, or insulin-dependent, is the more severe for of the disease. Type II, or adult onset, is the more common form and accounts for more than 85% of all cases. Diabetes cannot be cured, but it can be controlled. Control requires carefully regulating one's diet, regular exercise, and, if necessary, insulin.