We argue that there are two groups of diabetic children who cope differently with the treatment regimen, (a) those who maximize their metabolic control and whose difficulties are associated with better control, and (b) those who maintain control less tightly and whose difficulties are associated with poorer control. This hypothesis was investigated with a sample of 47 diabetic children and their mothers. Analyses confirmed the hypothesis, indicating two distinct groups based on the type of symptom (emotional versus conduct) the child exhibited. Symptom type was associated with mother's knowledge of diabetes, diabetic control, scores received on a standardized measure of psychological disturbance and diabetes‐specific concerns. The comparison of these two diabetic groups proved more sensitive to differences in diabetic adjustment than did comparisons made on the basis of psychiatric disturbanc