Preparing Your Child and Family for Life With Diabetes
After the initial shock of diagnosis wears off and we become more comfortable with administering insulin shots, scheduling blood tests and mealtimes, and carbohydrate counting we have a chance to look to the future. At that point it really begins to sink in what a long-term commitment parenting a diabetic child really is. We now understand we have been drawn into a different lifestyle that will last as long as we are parents. Even when our child is grown up and leaves home we will still be concerned and involved with the diabetes community.
If you are finding that you are having trouble managing your child's diabetes let me first share some statistics I found so you realize you are not alone.
35-75% do not follow meal plans all of the time
20-80% do not administer insulin correctly all of the time
30-70% do not record blood-monitoring level properly all of the time
23-52% do not provide adequate foot care all of the time
70-81% do not exercise adequately all of the time
Now that we understand how difficult it is to live with a chronic and potentially deadly disease, the question is how do we teach our children the reality of diabetes while still allowing them to be kids and trying to keep their lives as normal as possible. An experience that if you haven't run into you soon will is birthday parties. They are everything you need to avoid to keep your child's diabetes under control but they're also an important aspect of your child's life. With some planning you can have both. You can learn the specifics of this and many other situations you will face in my ebook "So Your Child Has Diabetes". The point is life and diabetes can go on together. Just as important, your child's friends learn about diabetes and talk about it. They don't discriminate, they include your child. We as parents need to be adults in these types of situations. We are the voices of maturity, reality and humanity. We are the ones who allow our children to talk about their disease and how it makes them feel as well as keeping them focused on self-care. We are the ones who keep the disease from overcoming our family. When you let your child talk to you about how they feel about having diabetes you will find your child has less emotional stress and better control of their blood glucose levels.
General family stress can greatly affect blood glucose levels. It's a delicate balance. When your child's blood glucose levels are out of control it can cause stress in the family and when there's stress in the family it can cause out of control blood glucose levels. You need to be prepared for these times. The Children's Hospital that treats my daughter has an excellent Mental Health Department. Other communities have a variety of services they offer. Make yourself aware of them and know where to turn before things start to get out of control.
One of the things that really surprised me was the difference in the way I perceived diabetes and the way my daughter perceived it over time. I found it easier to cope with diabetes as time went on. You get into a rhythm and your comfort level with treatment increases. On the other hand my daughter found that the emotional distress associated with diabetes increased as time went by. We need to be aware that just because we are better at dealing with diabetes it doesn't mean our children need less of our day to day care. A mistake I made was assuming that my 10-year-old didn't need me to constantly supervise her blood glucose monitoring. After she went on an insulin pump it was no longer necessary for me to administer insulin. She had been checking her own blood levels for quite a while. Even though she was checking her own blood, while I was giving the shots I was right there to make sure she checked properly and at the correct times. Once she went on the pump that wasn't the case anymore. I noticed that she wasn't nearly as conciencious when I wasn't there. This is just normal in the development of a child. Our children need us to keep them safe while they achieve these developmental skills.
In order to properly prepare our children for life with diabetes we must remember how we feel when we are ill. We hate it. Feeling lousy, unable to enjoy some of our normal activities. Imagine how this is magnified in our diabetic child. They never get a break. No rest from it, no vacation. No wonder they experience emotional problems. Never forget this. Our children need to know that we will always be there for them. They are not facing this alone. Listening to our children about their feelings is important but not enough. We also need to talk to them about what happens if they don't take good care of their diabetes. We need to be careful. We don't want our children to think that there is something wrong with them or to feel ashamed if their blood glucose levels aren't always under control. In this case children are like puppies. They respond better to reward for proper behavior that to punishment for wrong behavior.
Finally we need to realize that preparing for life with diabetes is an ongoing process. You can't control the process all of the time. Just take care of it one day at a time. With your help your child can understand this process of diabetes control and you don't have to become "that diabetic family". With preparation and awareness you, your child and the rest of your family can live healthy normal lives.
Russell Turner is the father of a 10 year old Type 1 Juvenile Diabetic daughter. When she was first diagnosed he quickly found there was all kinds of information on the internet about the medical aspects of this dsease. What he couldn't find was information about how to prepare his family to live with this disease. He started a website http://www.mychildhasdiabetes.com and designed it so parents of newly diagnosed children would have a one-stop resource to learn to prepare for life with diabetes.
MORE RESOURCES:
 Bloomberg | FDA Okays Another Diabetes Combo Agent MedPage Today By Cole Petrochko, Associate Staff Writer, MedPage Today WASHINGTON -- The FDA has approved an extended-release version of a combination sitagliptin and metformin (Janumet XR) for adults with type 2 diabetes. Approval was based on a bioequivalence ... FDA Approves Once-A-Day Drug for Type 2 Diabetes FDA Okays Merck's Janumet XR For Type 2 Diabetes - Update Merck Profit Exceeds Analysts' Estimates on Sales of Diabetes Medications |
 Family Practice News Digital Network | Distinguish Type 1 From Type 2 Diabetes in Obese Youth Family Practice News Digital Network New-onset type 1 diabetes in an obese youth cannot reliably be distinguished from pediatric type 2 diabetes on clinical grounds in this era of epidemic obesity. "The only way to distinguish obese type 1 diabetes from type 2 diabetes is to measure ... Phoenix Diabetes Lifestyle Coach and Endocrinologist Host Free, Informative ... All Natural Company True Healthy Products Now Offers Weight Loss And Fitness ... Over the Counter: Live healthier now and later |
Diabetes Takes Toll on Women's Hearing: Study iVillage Entertainment 3 (HealthDay News) -- Diabetes is associated with hearing loss in women, especially if the blood sugar disease isn't well-controlled, new research indicates. The study, done by researchers at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, examined the medical records ... |
Doctors Health Press Supports Study Showing That Diabetes Could Boost the Risk ... Houston Chronicle The Doctors Health Press, a publisher of various natural health newsletters, books and reports, including the popular online Doctors Health Press e-Bulletin, is lending its support to a new study showing that diabetes, if not controlled well, ... |
 Zap2it.com (blog) | Weight loss is key in fighting type 2 diabetes San Francisco Chronicle Q: I have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and am very confused about insulin resistance, and what carbohydrates I can and cannot eat. So much of what I read is contradictory. A: The first line of defense against type 2 diabetes is weight loss, ... A diabetic fiasco Paula Deen: Poster Child for Type 2 Diabetes and Excessive Sugar Consumption Paula Deen's diabetes drug: Should celebrities be endorsing pharmaceuticals? |
 TopNews United States | AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION RECOGNIZES NORTH CYPRESS MEDICAL CENTER DIABETES ... The Cypress Times Diabetes is a medical condition that causes a defect in the cells of the pancreas that are responsible for producing insulin. Insulin allows the body's blood sugar to be absorbed. If not controlled, diabetes can lead to serious health issues. Weight Loss Hold Aces in Combating Type 2 Diabetes |
Fundraisers for Bayville Boy With Type 1 Diabetes Planned Patch.com By Catherine Galioto and Patricia A. Miller One local boy's family is working to increase his support system to manage his Type 1 Diabetes, by adding a "Diabetes Awareness Dog" to the family. A series of local fundraisers will help raise the money ... |
Ulcer-causing bug tied to higher diabetes risk Reuters By Kerry Grens | NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People who have been infected with the ulcer-causing bacteria Helicobacter pylori are more than twice as likely to develop diabetes later on as people who do not have signs of the infection, according to a ... |
Ulcer-causing bug tied to higher diabetes risk Fox News Print Email Share Comments Recommend Tweet People who have been infected with the ulcer-causing bacteria Helicobacter pylori are more than twice as likely to develop diabetes later on as people who do not have signs of the infection, according to a new ... |
 PsychCentral.com | Decaffeinated Coffee May Protect Against Cognitive Decline in Diabetes PsychCentral.com By Traci Pedersen Associate News Editor Decaffeinated coffee seems to improve brain energy metabolism in association with type 2 diabetes, according to researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Glucose utilization in the brain is reduced in ... Memory Function - Decaffeinated Coffee May Help Decaf may help improve memory function Decaf Coffee Benefits the Brain |
Diabetes
Meal planning includes choosing healthy foods, eating the right amount of food, and eating meals at the right time. The American Diabetes Association and the American Dietetic Association developed 6 food exchange lists for the purpose of meal planning for people with diabetes as part of a diabetes diet.
Diabetes and Fitness
There are two main types of diabetes, type I and type II. Type I diabetes is characterized by the pancreas making too little or no insulin.
Syndrome X - What Is It And Have You Got It?
Syndrome X or the X factor as it is sometimes known was first described in 1988 by Professor Gerald Reaven , an endocrinologist at California's Stanford University after twenty years of study. Since this first identification the understanding of Syndrome X has come a long way.
If You Have Diabetes, You May Be Entitled To No Cost Diabetic Supplies
This article is intended to inform people with diabetes in regards to their diabetic supplies. When I found out that my sister was diagnosed with the disease I started to research more and came across some useful information that might be helpful to others.
Humulin or Lantus, Which Insulin For Your Child?
Humulin or Lantus? When my daughter, who was 8, was first diagnosed the Children's Hospital that was treating her put her on an insulin program of short acting Humalog NPH and long acting Humalin N. You should have seen me that first day of training after a long night in the emergency room where she was diagnosed.
Diabetes
The following information is for educational purposes only and is meant to complement any medical treatment, not to prescribe or diagnose any condition. Please consult with your doctor before starting any medical or nutritional program.
Diabetic Foot Care Tips: Cant Afford to Ignore It!
Most of the time, we focus on health or skin care completely ignoring the importance of our feet. Foot care is equally important especially for diabetic people to avoid foot complications.
I Have Diabetes or Another Chronic Condition - Should I Use an HSA?
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are becoming quite popular for people who are generally healthy. But what about sick people? What about people who have chronic conditions like diabetes, multiple sclerosis or the like? Does an HSA make sense for them?The short answer is yes.
Accu-Check Aviva Glucometer - New for Diabetes Testing
Now you can help make every test strip count as you can test right the very first time.The wide-mouth strip quickly sucks on the tiny blood drop, helping 97% of diabetes fill the strip on the very first try.
How Do You Know If You Have Diabetes?
Diabetes mellitus is a disorder characterized by the inability of the body to either produce or respond to insulin making it impossible to maintain proper levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood. The extra glucose is excreted in the urine and because of the high level of glucose more water is flushed through.
Protein Principles for Diabetes
Dietary considerations can present a Hobson's choice in diabetes. Even when the intake is nutritious, assimilating it can be another matter.
Do You Have Diabetes? Symptoms Of Diabetes And How To Address Them
Diabetes mellitus is a condition resulting from the pancreas' inability to produce enough insulin, which is needed by the body to help create energy. A deficiency of or ineffectiveness of insulin leads to high glucose levels in the blood, thus, leading to this illness.
Pre-Diabetes: Check Engine Warning Light
Your car has an early detection system and so does your body. Take 3 minutes to read this article and learn how you can save yourself a life time of aches, pains, and costly medical bills.
Raising Happy Diabetic Kids
This is the first in a series of articles I am about to embark upon concerning this subject. As my family gets older and matures with this disease I think back to the early days and wonder why aren't we all on medication for depression? Why don't we have standing twice a week appointments with a psychiatrist? How did we end up so normal?(whatever that is) As I look back this didn't happen by accident, nor am I Super Dad, and I didn't plan it out step by step.
Avandia Side Effect Lawyer: Diabetes Drug Damages Liver
Avandia, a compound of rosiglitazone maleate, is an oral antidiabetic agent. Avandia pills increase insulin sensitivity for patients with type 2 diabetes, or non-insulin-dependent diabetes.
Have Diabetes, But Enjoy Quality Food? Try Diabetic Recipes!
Having diabetes certainly limits some of the food you can eat, but with the right diabetic recipes you can still enjoy fine food. Sometimes, it is hard to know what foods are safe for you to eat.
Diabetes And The Long Term Dangers
Diabetes has hidden dangers that begin before diagnosis and continue to worsen if certain steps are not taken to prevent the complications that are the true, "killers" in terms of diabetes.Statistics show that there are around 18 million diabetics in America, both Type 1 and Type 2.
The Subconscious Diet Can Help Protect Your Child From Type 2 Diabetes
Until obesity became epidemic, type 2 diabetes was virtually unheard of in children and teens. It was originally called "adult-onset" because it was mainly seen after middle age.
Discover the Positive Effects of Exercise for Diabetes Sufferers
There are two main types of diabetes, type I and type II. Type I diabetes is characterized by the pancreas making too little or no insulin.
Diabetes Break-Thru Helps Battle Blood Sugar Woes
Are you a diabetic? If so, you are definitely not alone. Recent numbers report that there are some 18 million Type 2 diabetics.