Abstract
. Introduction: Type 1 diabetes mellitus is one of the most important endocrine-metabolic diseases in children and the management of its complications is a priority to world health care. Objective: The aim of this study was to acknowledge the resources used by the families to assist their type 1 diabetic children. Methods: This is a descriptive, exploratory and qualitative study, developed with seven resident families in Maringá-PR, whose children were younger than 14 years and enrolled in the municipal Basic Health Units database as diabetic. Data was collected in May 2007 by semi structured interviews carried out in families’ homes. Results showed the families believe that diabetic children need differentiated assistance which is not offered by the public health services, what forces the families to contract health care coverage provided by Health Maintenance Organizations despite the fact that they cannot afford it. Families complain that it takes too long to make appointments and exams/tests with specialist doctors in public health services. They also highlight the distance/absence of the family nurse in the Family Health Conclusions: Team while performing home visits, which hinders the families´ education process. To provide integrated care it is important to rethink the Family Health Team’s actions, mostly the nurses’, in order to plan specific actions towards diabetic children to minimize the impact and suffering due to this disease.
