To Parents and Caregivers
Caring for a child or loved one with diabetes is often overwhelming and confusing. To help you provide the best care possible, this section includes useful resources about caring for loved ones with diabetes.
Caring for Children
You might feel like your family's life was turned upside-down when your child was diagnosed with diabetes. There's a great deal to learn and the best way to cope is to work together. Talk with your child and your family about what diabetes is and how best to incorporate changes into your family's routine.
It's important to remind yourself and your child that diabetes isn't anybody's fault. Diabetes isn't caused by eating too much sugar. That's an old myth. And although researchers do know that genes play a role in diabetes, people often develop diabetes even if there's no history of it in their family.
When you talk to your healthcare professionals about caring for your child and managing your child's diabetes, be sure to ask lots of questions. We've also provided plenty of information and resources for you below.
Caring for Teens
Your teenager might be growing up, but he or she is still your child. You want to be there for your teen just as much as you always have been. Even though your son or daughter is gaining independence, they still need you!
Being a teenager and facing big steps, like learning to drive, or dating for the first time, can be even harder when you have diabetes. As a parent of a teen with diabetes, guiding your teen through adolescence means keeping yourself informed, too. It's important to work together with your teen's healthcare professionals and school to help your teen stay healthy.
Hormones and Tricky Decisions
Hormonal changes teens face in adolescence can affect their insulin, making it harder to keep blood sugar levels under control. Teenagers with diabetes should keep careful track of their blood sugar readings so they can work with you and their healthcare team to make changes to their diabetes regimen as their body is growing and changing.
Caring for Adults
As our loved ones with diabetes age, the demands of diabetes care, from managing diet and exercise to monitoring blood glucose levels and meeting with healthcare professionals, can become increasingly more difficult to deal with on one's own. Older people may also have other health problems and complications that may make it even more difficult.
That's why many adults need a little help from their loved ones. And if you're a caregiver to a spouse, parent, or older relative, you're filling in a vital role — helping your loved one stay healthy.
Maintaining Independence
As a caregiver to an adult, it's important to be sensitive to the value people feel in self-reliance. Instead of taking over your loved one's life when it comes time to provide them with care, be their health partner, sharing the responsibilities for their health together. Keeping your loved one informed, involved, and as self-reliant as possible will help you both to stay energized and happy