Keeping your Teen Informed
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 always. Even though your son or daughter is gaining independence, your teen still needs 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 him or her through adolescence means being informed yourself. It's important to work with your teen's healthcare professionals and school to help him or her stay healthy.
Hormones and Tricky Decisions
Hormonal changes in adolescents can make it hard to keep blood glucose levels under control. Teenagers with diabetes should keep careful track of their blood glucose readings and discuss the results with their health care team. Together they will develop a plan to keep their diabetes well controlled.
All teens face tricky decisions, but there are issues specific to teens with diabetes you should be aware of. Difficult topics like weight control, peer pressure to smoke, drink or use drugs, learning to drive, dating, and sex are all discussed at Simply for Teens, along with information to help teens manage their diabetes, talk to their doctor, tell friends and more.