By: Valerie Macy-Hurley, LCSW, social worker, Endocrine, Diabetes & Metabolic Center, Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach  |  Having a child diagnosed with diabetes is a major event, but it’s important to keep everything in perspective. Managed properly, diabetes shouldn’t prevent your child from doing anything other kids do.

You’ll hear a lot of information from people on your child’s care team. You may feel a range of emotions over the first few months: anxious, sad, overwhelmed or even guilty. With time, at some point caring for your child’s diabetes will become part of your daily routine. I try to help the families I work with recognize that diabetes isn’t anyone’s fault. Your child’s diabetes means part of their body isn’t functioning properly; it doesn’t mean you or your child did something wrong.

You’ll need to discuss your child’s diabetes with them and their siblings. Be honest and use clear, concrete language. Explain that there is a part of their body that is no longer working right, and that with proper medication, they can stay healthy.

Allow them to express their feelings. Younger kids may want express themselves by playing or drawing. Older kids might want to talk about their feelings. They may feel angry or guilty that they’ve caused change for their family.

Diabetes is a 24/7 job, but if managed properly your child can live a healthy, normal, well-balanced life. Follow these tips for successful management:

• Establish a family routine
  The most successful children have a good support system in place and a family that is willing to commit to a healthy lifestyle together. If a sibling isn’t eating healthy, it’s going to be hard for your child with diabetes to choose healthy foods. The things you’ll be asked to do, like eating more whole foods, monitoring carbohydrate intake and exercising, are things that are healthy for the whole family – not just people with diabetes.

• Build a support system
  Identify one or two people you can trust. Ask if they’re willing to go through the education process and be a backup person you can count on, so you can get a break. Caregivers must take care of themselves! The stronger your support system, the healthier your child will be.

• Take an active role in their health care
  Arrange for routine follow-up visits, call your child’s doctor if you have questions and become an advocate for their health.

• Think ahead
  Form a consistent schedule and carry around diabetes supplies, such as snacks and treatments for low blood glucose.

• Stay organized
  Put your child’s diabetes routine on the refrigerator until you feel like you know it by heart. Carry around an organized kit, labeling the items inside and keeping spares on hand.

• Communicate
  Develop a system to help you and your child remember when and who gave medicines. Determine ways of keeping in contact with your child, their school and other caregivers. Post emergency numbers in a visible location. It can be helpful to others caring for your child.

• Welcome support
  Being around other children and families who are going through similar experiences can be helpful. Seek out support groups and classes. Miller Children’s offers several:

• • Type 2 diabetes class
  • Carbohydrate counting class
  • Diabetes support group

Call (562) 933-8562 to learn more.