<![CDATA[Diabetes mellitus requires long-term management that depends not only on patients but also on the family’s ability to provide support and care. Family-Centered Care (FCC) positions families as active partners in healthcare and may strengthen family independence. Family involvement is essential because most diabetes management occurs at home, including medication management, lifestyle modification, health monitoring, and complication prevention. This study aimed to analyze the association between FCC and family independence in caring for patients with diabetes mellitus at Limboto Public Health Center. This study employed a quantitative analytical observational design with a cross-sectional approach. A total of 110 family members of patients with diabetes mellitus were selected through purposive sampling from a population framework of 1,144 patients registered in 2025. FCC was the independent variable, while family independence was the dependent variable. FCC was operationalized using the 14-item Iceland-Family Perceived Support Questionnaire (ICE-FPSQ), while family independence was assessed using the 20-item CUIDAR Short Version. Respondent characteristics were analyzed descriptively, while the hypothesis was tested using a t-test of the simple linear regression coefficient at α=0.05. Most respondents were female (77.3%), aged 26–35 years (31.8%), wives of patients (35.5%), and senior high school graduates (46.4%). Most patients had diabetes for less than five years (64.5%), with neuropathy as the most frequently reported complication (73.6%). FCC showed a positive and significant association with family independence (B=1.343; SE=0.076; β=0.862; t=17.642; p<0.001; 95% CI: 1.192–1.494). Better FCC was significantly associated with greater family independence. These findings reinforce the importance of integrating families into diabetes care. Primary nursing services should strengthen communication, education, emotional support, and family empowerment in a structured and sustainable manner. ]]>
