People in the Know
Get expert answers to your toughest type 1 questions.
Behavior
- When our son has a sudden fluctuation in blood sugar level, he becomes super cranky. I understand out-of-range numbers make him feel horrible, so do I let it go when he slams doors or calls his sister names?
- My 12-year-old son refuses to test his blood sugar during the day. We've taken away his computer and cell phone privileges, but nothing changes. What can I do?
Care Away From Home
- My mom wants our daughter to spend school vacation week with her. How can we make sure she's up to the task of caring for a child with type 1 diabetes?
- We had been saving up for a family vacation and thought that we could finally go this summer. Then our son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Is leaving the country a completely insane idea?
Communicating
- How do we talk to adult friends and family about our child's recent diagnosis?
- How do we explain type 1 diabetes to our recently diagnosed 7-year-old when we barely have a handle on it ourselves?
- How do I deal with uninformed people, and what do I say to those who don't understand that type 1 diabetes is different than type 2 diabetes?
- Our newly diagnosed 11-year-old has begged us not to tell anyone beyond our immediate family and her teacher. How do we explain to her that it's helpful for those around her to know about her diabetes?
- On the way to school, my 8-year-old son asked me out of nowhere, "Mom, what does it feel like to not have diabetes?" How should I have answered?
- A family member told my young son that I baby him because of his type 1 diabetes. How do I address this situation?
- Everyone wants to know, "How can we help?" I am feeling completely overwhelmed, but short of having friends and neighbors take a diabetes education class with me, what kind of help can they provide?
- Not having type 1 diabetes ourselves, we can't really know what it's like for our son. What do kids wish their parents knew about what they're going through?
Diagnosis, Treatment and Care
- Suddenly we have an entire "diabetes team" to take care of my daughter's type 1 diabetes. It's confusing. Just what is the role of each of these medical professionals?
- Our 12-year-old really wants to begin taking control of her own diabetes care. How will we know she's ready? What's a good first step toward increased independence?
- Our 4-year-old was just diagnosed, seemingly out of nowhere. What symptoms did we miss?
- How can we can make finger sticks less of an ordeal for our 5-year-old?
Food and Nutrition
- Dinner often ends up being pizza or take-out. How will this affect our son's diabetes?
- How should a kid with type 1 diabetes navigate parties and other food-centered celebrations?
- The holidays are rapidly approaching, and all the sugary treats have me feeling not so jolly! How can our newly diagnosed 8-year-old son navigate "candy season"?
- Our 12-year-old just informed us that she intends to be a vegan. Is this realistic for someone with type 1 diabetes?
- We have relied a lot on diet soda and other sugar-free products as a way to satisfy our son's sweet tooth. Are there other tips that we can use to curb his craving for sweets?
- A lot of the options for snacks with printed carb counts are highly processed foods. What are some healthful choices for snacks-on-the-go?
Friends and Classmates
- We just found out that a kid at school has been teasing our son after he comes back from checking his blood sugar at the nurse's office. What do we do?
- Our very athletic 11-year-old daughter experienced hypoglycemia right in the middle of an important basketball game. She was fine after she drank some juice, but having her teammates see her so weak and dizzy has made her feel very embarrassed. How do I help her through moments like this?
- Our recently diagnosed 10-year-old is very worried about her friends "freaking out" if they see her giving herself a shot. What should she tell her friends about her condition?
- We're moving to a new town, and our 11-year-old told me that she doesn't want to become known there as "diabetes girl." How do we help?
Parenting
- I'm back at work full time, and just getting my child to school every day feels like a major accomplishment. How can I create a positive work-life balance?
- My wife feels a lot of guilt and pain as a result of our daughter's diagnosis and has started giving in to her every wish to make her happy. It's getting out of control. How can we get things back to normal?
- My ex-husband and I don't get along. How can we rally to care for our son?
- I feel like all of my child's type 1 diabetes care has fallen on my shoulders. How do I get my husband to share some of the responsibility?
- I've read about kids with type 1 experiencing "diabetes burnout," but in our family, I actually think I'm the one having a tough time. How can I get my type 1 mojo back?
School and Policy
- Our daughter was diagnosed over the summer. What kind of help can we expect from the school?
- Our 6-year-old daughter is going on her first all-day field trip with her class since being diagnosed. Do I need to chaperone?
- Our recently diagnosed daughter goes to a small private school, and an actual school nurse is only on site two days a week. How will this affect our child's type 1 diabetes management?
- Our son had a low blood sugar episode at school; after it resolved, the nurse described him as still feeling "a little off." What do other parents do in this situation?
Siblings
- Our son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes a few months ago, and his 12-year-old big sister immediately volunteered to help out with watching for signs of hypoglycemia and learning how to inject insulin. It's wonderful, but should I lean on my older child so much?
- My son asked me if we're having another baby "because we want to have at least one healthy child in the family." I instantly reassured him that this is not true. But how do I make sure he really understands?
Sports, Fitness and Body Image
- We're having a hard time getting our 12-year-old with diabetes to get up and move around, what can we do to encourage exercise?
- We don't have much trouble keeping our 7-year-old active in summer, but now that it's cold and we're stuck inside, we need some suggestions!
- Before his diagnosis, our 11-year-old had such high hopes of becoming a professional athlete someday. How do I help him see that he can still have dreams?
- Our 11-year-old daughter has become much more self-conscious of her looks and body shape. What can I do now to help her develop a positive self-image?
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