There is evidence that relates life stress to the onset of juvenile diabetes mellitus. Parental loss and other stresses are documented in this study of thirty-seven children with diabetes and their families. Divorce, separation, or death of the child's parents was recorded through home interviews. Children with insulindependent diabetes within one geographic area were included. Comparison with children without diabetes matches for age, sex, race, geographic area, and socioeconomic status showed that parental loss was significantly higher in the children who later developed diabetes. Children of disrupted families were recurrently hospitalized, while children of stable families were not. Results of this study have implications relative to etiology of diabetes as well as to preventive mental health measures.