Being a parent is challenging even when everything is going perfectly well, but when you are raising a child who has a serious medical concern like Type 1 Diabetes, it can be even more difficult. The challenges families face when they have multiple children with Diabetes can be even more daunting.
One of the biggest challenges for parents of multiple children with Diabetes is simply having the time and energy to manage their health and keep track of their blood sugar levels. From doctor appointments to finger pokes and checking multiple blood glucose monitors to planning meals, there is always something to worry about. It can, ironically, be even more difficult when the parents do not have Diabetes themselves, since they are not only coping with the worry and adjustment of caring for their diabetic children but also may have a steep learning curve in understanding how to manage the disease and monitor blood sugar levels effectively for their kids.
When children are young, parents at least have some kind of control over where, when, and what they eat so that they can help keep blood sugar levels more stable and be there to use the blood glucose monitor, but young children often do not understand why they have to go through so much discomfort.
Parenting tip: Even the youngest of children can understand in simple terms the importance of taking care of their bodies. Just as they learn the importance of brushing teeth and taking baths, you can teach young children the importance of checking blood sugar levels with a blood sugar meter and why insulin shots help. There are a number of resources available to help parents explain about Diabetes.
Coping with multiple young children with diabetes may require you to get regular time away. Enlist the help of family and friends who are comfortable taking care of the children for you to get a break, teach them how to use the blood sugar monitor, and allow yourself to have respite.
As kids with Diabetes begin to attend school and spend more time away from home, parents may feel a loss of control over managing blood sugar levels. Kids may have to be taught how to use blood glucose monitors and work with a school nurse to adjust blood sugar levels. It’s impossible to be with your children every moment, and the level of worry most moms and dads feel over their insulin-dependent children heading off to school can be enormous.
Parenting tip. Open a dialogue with the school from day one. Work with the school nurse and make sure they always have a way to reach you if there are questions or concerns. Educate your children, too, about making proper choices when eating. Empower your kids to learn about blood sugar levels, how to read the blood glucose monitor, and how food and activity levels can impact those blood sugar levels. Help your children recognize how their bodies feel when their blood glucose levels are high and low so that they can begin to recognize how to care for themselves. As your children get older, give them more responsibility for managing their own health. Let them have a full life and do all of the things that other kids do as much as possible.
With the Dario smart meter, parents can set up the Hypo alert for their children, which will automatically notify them if the children go below a certain blood sugar level. Learn more about this useful feature on our website.
There can be benefits of having more than one child with Diabetes. Not only can the children help each other keep their blood glucose levels under control, but they have a built-in support system in the form of someone who knows exactly what they are going through and what they are facing. Encourage older siblings to help take care of younger siblings. They can help younger siblings be brave about shots and finger pricks, help to teach them about the disease, and be there for them when they have a bad day.
Remember that support is incredibly important for parents too. It is very helpful to get support from your community- either from your immediate family and friends or a support group such as The Dario Lounge on Facebook where you can talk to people that have similar life challenges.