The aim of this study was to explore family members’ experiences of everyday life in families with adult people living with type 1 diabetes. The grounded theory method was used to gather and analyse data from the interviews of nineteen family members. Six concepts describing the family members’ views on everyday living with diabetes were generated on the basis of the data. Everyday life with diabetes is described as being intertwined with hypoglycemia. Becoming acquainted with diabetes takes place little by little. Being involved in the management and watching self-management from the sidelines are concepts describing family members’ participation in the daily management of diabetes. The family members are also integrating diabetes into everyday life. Living on an emotional roller-coaster tells about the thoughts and feelings that family members experience. Family members of adult people with diabetes are involved in the management of the diabetes in many ways and experience many concerns. The family members’ point of view is important to take into consideration when developing education for adults with diabetes. 1. Introduction Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common chronic diseases all over the world. The aim of diabetes management is good metabolic control and the prevention of diabetes-related complications. Self-management has an important role in the management of diabetes [1, 2]. It is also recognised that family plays a significant part in the management of diabetes [3–8]. The importance of the relationship between the parents and the child with diabetes has been clearly documented [9–12]. In addition to that, parental support has been shown to enhance diabetes control and self-management in children and adolescents [9, 13]. During the adolescence, the collaboration with parents’ decrease and the person with type 1 diabetes take responsibility of his/her self-management [14]. However, family members may provide practical help in the day-to-day management of diabetes also for adults with diabetes, as well as support and encouragement in lifelong adherence to a demanding regimen [4, 15, 16]. While family influences the self-management of diabetes, the diabetes of one family member also influences other members of the family. Parents of the children’s with diabetes describe that their life is different after diabetes diagnosis and not so easier than before; they have lost their freedom. On one hand, they feel healthy and confident, and on the other hand the child is invisibly ill and they feel insecure and concerns connected to the future.
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