Objective: To know the experience of families in caring for children with Diabetes Mellitus Type 1. Methods: Descriptive and exploratory study with a qualitative approach. For the production of empirical material, it was developed open interview with thirteen relatives. The analysis took place according to the process of inductive thematic content analysis. It was used the framework of family-centered care as a driver of the analysis. Results: It were categorized in two themes: the family role facing the demand for modified usual care; and insulin therapy in the family's daily lives. Conclusions and implications for the practice: The experience of time with the disease coupled with support structures, commitment and perseverance from the families potentiate the management of chronic disease in childhood. It is suggested the reorganization of health services seeking to develop a care based on the concept of care centered on the family.