Psychological aspects of recurrent diabetic ketoacidosis in preadolescent boys

This paper examines the psychotherapeutic treatment of two preadolescent boys who presented with recurrent episodes of diabetic ketoacidosis. The diabetic ketoacidotic episode is interpreted as a developmentally primitive response to stress in emotionally immature patients who have failed to master age-appropriate developmental tasks in areas of separation, gender identity, and self-esteem. Individuation, differentiation, and acquiring the capacity to use language to express emotions are major therapeutic goals.