Background

Today, parents of children newly diagnosed with type 1 Diabetes (T1DM) mainly learn to weigh and count the carbohydrates in meals to accuratly dose insulin. Previously, parents often dosed insulin after having estimated the amount of carbohydrates only with perceptiveness. It is not uncommon for parents to experience anxiety, and stress contemporaneous with diagnostics. The anxiety is often associated with fear of hypoglycemia. Aim The purpose of this study was to highlight the parents' experience of administrate insulin using carbohydrate counting or eye measurement method in children with T1DM. Method Eight interviews were conducted and analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results The analysis resulted in the theme: The need of strategies, four categories: confidence, stress freedom, uncertainty and as well as seven sub-categories: ease in everyday, ease for others, demanding, to feel controlled, find your own way, groping in the dark and losing control. Most often families used a combination of both methods to find a way that suited them and their situation of life. Conclusion: The families chosed to pick the best out of the two methods to customize it according to their own needs. Keywords Children, experiences, qualitative method, parents, type 1 Diabetes.