Comparative study of diabetes knowledge among juvenile diabetics and their parents.

One hundred and twenty-nine children with diabetes from fifty-eight junior and senior high schools in the Minneapolis- St. Paul area and their parents were given a thirty-four-item test to evaluate their knowledge of diabetes and to determine if there were significant differences in understanding. Areas of deficiency were noted particularly involving understanding of diet, acidosis and alterations in management that occur with changes in activity or illness. Descriptive material is presented indicating that there is high correlation of knowledge levels between diabetic children and their parents.