Although I’m not a parent, I can appreciate the amount of sacrifice my parents have to go through for me to live a healthy life as a diabetic. As you read these suggestions, know that this is personal advice. Non of this is proven or patented, just some personal experience.
As a teenager, I really wanted to be like everyone else. My parents made sure that I felt as close to that as possible. I was involved in many activities through high school, and now through college, but I always have to remember, I had diabetes.
The best thing you can do for your diabetic child is, let them know the importance of taking care of diabetes, but still letting them be kids. It breaks my heart to see parents not letting their kid eat an ice cream cone on a hot summer day because they have diabetes. Let your kid be a kid.
However, things start to become difficult when diabetics become teenagers. I know I was upset that I had to be stuck with this disease, and I bet your diabetic kids feel the same way.
When I got my drivers license, my parents told me I had to test my blood sugar before I drove, and if I did not test, my car was taken away for a week. That was heartbreaking for a 16 year old. It is hard to tell your child to manage their diabetes, but sometimes, those incentives/threats keep them out of danger. If they understand that you are trying to keep them safe, then you have a fighting chance for their understanding.
What if your kid is that one that just doesn’t care? What do you do? Well, this is where tough love comes into play. They see you as a nag that has no idea what it’s like to be diabetic.
You see them as children you love and would do anything to keep safe. If they aren’t going to take care of their diabetes, there is nothing you can do. I know that my mom would gladly have taken shots for me, but she couldn’t; I was the one who had to bear the pokes.
When I was going through the, “I’m going to show you! I’m not going to test my blood!” I was not really hurting my parents (though, emotionally I was), I was hurting myself. If you can get your teens to realize that all of the sneaking food, not testing, not giving insulin stuff is only hurting them, they might wise up and start caring for their bodies.
Simply loving your child, no matter how high or low their blood sugar goes, is really all you can do as a parent. Incentives and threats can always work, but letting them know they are the only ones that can take care of their diabetes, and letting them know that you love them, are the best ways to handle a teenager with diabetes.