The educational challenge is complicated by the fact that parents and siblings are also being educated. Sometimes, each parent has a different idea about what the goals are and how to accomplish them. Sadly, some parents perceive the diabetes as solely the child's problem, others are overly involved. The authors usually see gradual assumption of responsibility by the child, but prefer their young patients not to start self-injections until 11 or 12 years of age. The more the parents nag, the more likely the child will do exactly what his parents do not want him to do.
Perfect control is unattainable for most individuals.
Some children have to learn from their mistakes, and some simply mature later than others. All family members and school personnel must come to understand the life threatening nature of diabetes.