P-209: Parents’ experiences and perceived needs in follow-up of young children with type 1 diabetes: a qualitative study
H S Borkamo, N Handelsby, R S Gamlestøl, L Wisting, T Skrivarhaug, A HaugstvedtAbstract
Introduction
Managing type 1 diabetes (T1D) in young children (<8 years) is recognized as a demanding and complex task for parents. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and automated insulin delivery (AID) systems have transformed clinical practice the last decade. Less is known about how parents experience diabetes follow-up in this evolving technological context.
Objectives
To explore parents’ experiences of caring for a young child with T1D and their perceived needs in diabetes follow-up.
Methods
Parents (n=14: 11 mothers, 3 fathers) of children ≤8 years with T1D were recruited through three pediatric departments (one rural, two urban) from the National Childhood Diabetes Registry in Norway. All but one of the participants’ children used AID systems. Four semi-structured focus group interviews were conducted and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis as described by Braun & Clark.
Results
Three themes were identified: (1) diabetes technology reshapes, rather than reduces, parental burden, creating a need for timely, repeated education during a vulnerable early phase; (2) psychosocial strain remains largely unaddressed within child-centred consultations, highlighting the need for parent-only consultations; and (3) responsibility for training school, daycare, and other caregivers is largely placed on parents, indicating a need for coordinated, healthcare-supported competence transfer.
Conclusions
Despite advances in diabetes technology, parents of young children with T1D experience a substantial and often unaddressed burden. Findings suggest a need for structured, staged education, routine attention to parental psychosocial needs with opportunities for parent-only consultations. Healthcare-supported training of the child’s wider caregiving network may promote more sustainable diabetes management and reduce treatment burden.