Diabetes & Teenagers

The teenage years are never easy for a young person, with all the emotional upheavals of puberty and the physical changes it presents. But the teenager with diabetes will be forced to endure an even greater burden, with the stress of change making their diabetes worse and their condition increasing stress levels, it can seem like a vicious circle for many.

Youngsters who have for years adhered to a management plan may begin ignoring their regime and denying their diabetes as a reaction to the physical and mental changes they are going through. During this period, when blood glucose levels are already becoming harder to regulate, problems can arise from a failure to apply the guidelines.

Such problems are compounded for young women, especially around the time of their menstrual period, when hormone levels influence glucose levels and can cause an irregular cycle.

Teenagers inherently want to fit in with the crowd and their diabetes, with its associated management techniques including injections, special meals and rigid timings can hamper the opportunity to conform, having a negative impact on a teenager’s self image.

It is important during this period for parents to support their children and emphasize the skill and judgment they need to develop, without denying them the freedom to express themselves. Being open with your teenage is especially important now and you should stress the potentially harmful long term effects and consequences of not being aware of their condition.

Be prepared for a tough fight and don’t expect them to understand your warnings about the future. But it is important to stress the damaging effects of a high incidence of glucose levels and how it can be harmful to them. Educators have an important role to play in this period, as does literature. There are many excellent books written especially for teenagers, outlining how diabetes affects them, and it’s probably a good idea to give your child access to at least one of them.

Most importantly, talk with your child. If you are diabetic yourself discuss openly your own feelings and how you manage the condition.

Pregnancy and Diabetes

Like any other woman, Diabetics have to take certain precautions during pregnancy, but with the right diet and a little extra attention, there is no reason why you should not have a perfectly healthy child. All the usual advice applies, such as eating a healthy, well balanced diet, avoiding drinking and smoking and making sure you take the correct vitamins.

Once you are pregnant it is important to maintain your blood glucose at near normal levels, especially in the early stages, when your baby is growing most rapidly. You run the highest chance of miscarriage during this phase and high glucose levels can increase the risk of complications. Your doctor will be able to advise you on a suitable meal plan.

Sufferers taking hypoglycaemic medication or controlling their condition through diet and exercise will be moved to insulin injections and you will need to adjust to this by monitoring your body’s glucose levels carefully. Gradually, over the course of your pregnancy your need for insulin will increase. You can help regulate it by sticking to an agreed meal plan and learning to adjust your jabs as required.

Food intake is especially important during pregnancy; after all, you are controlling both the nutrition and glucose levels of two people now and you will have to accommodate your food intake accordingly, increasing your daily intake by around 300 calories.

Over the course of your pregnancy you will become an expert in controlling your blood sugar levels and it is important throughout never to miss meals and snack breaks. If you suffer from morning sickness contact your doctor immediately, and if sticking to three large meals a day becomes uncomfortable, split them into six or even eight smaller servings.

Your doctor will know exactly how you need to manage your condition over the course of your pregnancy and be able to advise you throughout.

Managing Diabetes in Your Child

Because young children often struggle to recognize the symptoms of their diabetes it is crucial that you, as a parent, help them to understand their condition and that you conduct frequent blood glucose checks.

But management does not end there as your child’s emotional and physical well being is particularly at risk if they are diabetic. School life has been touched upon elsewhere in this blog, so here we will concentrate on your child’s life outside of the education system.

Often the families of children with diabetes worry that they will be excluded from activities or made to feel awkward and embarrassed by their condition. However, an open attitude and frank discussion with their friends will frequently result in exactly the opposite. Indeed, research shows that peer groups will often value your child and readily accept them just the way they are, if they are honest about the disease, while a secretive attitude can lead to resentment and exclusion.

Talk with your doctor and other health professionals, they will often be able to counsel your child on managing their diabetes, and advise them on how best to cope with their feelings of being different. A healthy social life is important to your child, not just for their psychological well being but also for them to lead a physically active and rewarding life.

Remember, exercise is a vital part of managing their condition and there is no reason why your child should not participate in sports and other social activities such as hiking and camping. They will help him or her to maintain a healthy insulin balance and lower blood sugar levels.

There is absolutely no reason for diabetes to impact on your child’s potential for success in both social integration and sporting achievement. Provided with the correct knowledge and tools to participate your child will develop the self-esteem, confidence and other positive effects of a normal physical life.

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