My interest in this topic is the result of recent experiences with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DMI), specifically with the following two cases: a young adult patient admitted to hospital in following an episode of DKA during one of my nursing rotations and one of my instructors with type 1 diabetes. Additionally, my father was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, this increased my desire to study and explore more about illness. During one of my rotations, I was assigned a young adult patient who had run out of insulin and was admitted to the hospital following an episode of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). I realized that my patient was probably torn between purchasing insulin and purchasing healthy food because her medical records showed several hospitalizations in the past following the same issues. This particular patient was in her room, isolated in a corner, and was irritable. As his student nurse, I was actively involved in his care; I was his supporter for the day. The patient lived with her single mother and worked at a fast food restaurant. Since it was the first time I was dealing with a patient suffering from DKA, it became a real challenge for me. In both clinical and classroom experience, we learned how the process of DKA can be life-threatening, the importance of following medical regimen recommendations and various types of foods. Financial constraints sometimes make it difficult for families and individuals with DM1 to comply with medical and dietary recommendations. My former clinical instructor has DM1 and taught us about carb counting, the importance of exercise, and what keeping up with insulin does. We created a carbohydrate counting project that we presented to the nurses and then to the patients. We made sure of a...... middle of paper ......d adolescents: an analysis of the developmental concept. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 37(1), 87-99. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2648.2002.02061.xSkinner, T., John, M., &Hampson, S. (2000). Social support and personal models of diabetes as predictors of self-care and well-being: A longitudinal study of adolescents with diabetes. Journal of Pediatric Psychology.25(4), 257-267. doi: 10.1093/jpepsy/25.4.257. Retrieved from http://jpepsy.oxfordjournals.org/content/25/4/257.full.pdf+htmlVoltarelli, JC, Couri, C., Stracieri, A., Oliveira, MC, Moraes, DA, Pieroni, F. , Burt, R. K. (2007). Autologous non-myeloablative hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes mellitus. JAMA: Journal of the American Medical Association, 297(14), 1568-1576. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=rzh&AN=2009556 12&site=ehost-live&scope=site