Caring for your Child
You might feel like your family's life was turned upside-down when your child was diagnosed with diabetes. The best way to learn and cope is to work together. Have lots of talks with your child and your family about what diabetes is and how to best incorporate changes into your family's routine.
It's important to remind yourself and your child that diabetes isn't anybody's fault. Diabetes is not caused by eating too much sugar and, though researchers do know genes play a role in diabetes, people often develop diabetes without a family history.
Tips for Parents
Get Organized
- Create a caregiving schedule: Make diabetes management part of your child's daily routine, and a special time for you and your child to be together.
- Stock up on diabetes care products and keep them in one place: Avoid extra trips to the pharmacy by keeping products handy. Just be sure to check expiry dates before you buy your supplies to be sure they'll be used in time.
- Change recipes and collect new ones: Ask a dietician to help adapt your family's favourite recipes, and keep meal planning interesting with new meals to try.
- Download and use our Parents' Health Organizer.
Communicate
- Talk with your child's healthcare team: Ask lots of questions and make sure your child is involved in learning about diabetes and its management.
- Have family meetings: As you know, diabetes affects the whole family. If your child has diabetes, your other children may feel left out because they are not getting as much attention from you. Everyone in the family needs to understand diabetes, so it's a good idea to spend time talking openly about feelings and sharing information.
Find Support
- Join a support group: Whether your diabetes educator puts you in touch with a live support group or you use online discussions and chats, it's important to talk about your experiences. You're not alone — many other parents are going through the same things you are.
- Find a diabetes camp for your child.
Be Informed
- Go online: Use our Resources and other trusted, credible websites to learn more.
- Visit your local library: You'll find books, magazines and films that will help.
