Background: Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 is an autoimmune disease. The disease often requires a change in life style that can be perceived as hard, especially for an adolescent. In the period of transition, the adolescent will become independent and take responsibility for the treatment of their diabetes, and have a great need of support to cope. The diabetes nurse thereby has an important responsibility in supporting the adolescents and cater their need of support.

Aim: The purpose was to highlight the diabetes nurse's support to adolescents living with Diabetes Mellitus Type 1.

Method: A quality study focusing on semi-structured interviews have been performed. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and analyzed using a qualitative content analysis.

Results: The result is presented in four main categories; Office visits –, Mutual learning –, Technology – and Knowledge as support. The four main categories consisted of nine sub-categories which emphasized the different ways the diabetes nurse could act to give support to the adolescents. The result also shows that the diabetes nurses support is comprehensive and consists of several different perspectives.

Conclusion: The diabetes nurse can use her competence to give support and transfer knowledge to the adolescent to ease the transitioning into independence. The diabetes nurse is receptive to every person's need for support and for their ability to receive the support. This means that the nurse applies a person-focused approach and thereby the support can be a positive experience to the adolescent's quest for independence in living with diabetes.