Last Updated on May 4, 2024
Having a child diagnosed with diabetes is a terrifying situation. You and your child will be caught in a storm of pamphlets, websites, medical terms, and medications. This will be a difficult time for you and your child. If this is your situation here are some tips on how to focus and move forward.
Your child’s feelings
Depending on your child’s age and temperament, they could feel many different feelings. Some children cope with their diagnosis better than others. You know how your child handles stress, be prepared to cope with them. Some of the common emotions felt by recently diagnosed children are:
Isolation
It’s common for a child diagnosed with diabetes to feel “different” or “weird.” When your child goes to school, they might begin to feel isolated from the other kids because of their diabetes.
Fear
Being told you have a disease with no cure is scary. Diabetes can be especially scary for kids because of the needles, meters, and medications for a disease that they don’t understand.
Guilt
Guilt is often a feeling that parents don’t think about. Your child can feel guilty because of the extra attention they are required. They can feel like they are adding extra stress and pressure on you and your family.
Embarrassment
Most children are easily embarrassed around their peers. Your child is going to require extra attention at school for teachers and administration. The special attention can make some teams feel embarrassed.
Explaining diabetes to your child
Helping your child understand diabetes can help them cope with the new feelings they are having. You will need to explain it differently depending on your child’s age and personality.
With younger children, avoid the long medical terms, but still emphasize the significance. You might want to consider visual aids, such as a book or video to help explain diabetes. With older children, you can begin to explain the medical complexities of diabetes and some of the challenges they will face.
Helping your child cope
There is no how-to guide to helping your child cope with his or her diabetes. Each child is different. You know your child’s strengths and weaknesses better than anyone. The best thing you can do as a best is being there for them.
Encourage discussion
Make sure your child is comfortable talking to you about their feelings and their diabetes. Ask them how they are feeling or if they are confused about anything. There might be problems at school that you didn’t anticipate, encourage your child to talk about any problems they are having. See if there is anyway that you can help them overcome their struggles.
Encourage independence
Depending on your child’s age, this can take many different forms. For small children, this could mean getting their own snack, or letting them help pack a healthy lunch. This will encourage independence and also help them understand healthy options.
Remember that eventually your child will have to manage all aspects of their diabetes. Begin letting them take small steps towards independence, but make sure you follow-up behind them.
Encourage management
Diabetes isn’t always easy or convenient to control. Start teaching your child good management early. Teaching your child good management skills early, will make it easy for them in the future.
Let them enjoy a cookie, but help them understand that you can’t eat as many as they want. Instead of gorging out on the cookies, show them some healthier and delicious alternatives.
Encourage fun
Diabetes or not, your child is still a kid. Some parents will put their child “in a bubble” after they are diagnosed. Don’t hold your child back from being a normal kid. With careful planning and preparation, your child can enjoy everything that their friends are doing.
Being a parent of a child with diabetes isn’t always going to be easy. There will be many late night/early morning level checks. There is going to be a few scary moments, but there will also be TONS of moments to cheer about. There will be moments when your child is comfortable with their diabetes.
