Aim: To evaluate factors that influence parental perception of diabetes mellitus risk for their child.
Method: Self-administered survey of parents in a managed care plan.
Results: Child overweight status, family history of type 2 diabetes, and accurate parental perception of their child's overweight status were independent predictors of parental worry about diabetes and perception of greater diabetes risk for their child.
Conclusions: Accurate parental perception of their child's weight status and a family history of type 2 diabetes may serve as useful motivators in the clinical setting for diabetes prevention.