Help Your Teen Take Charge of Diabetes

It’s a bit like learning to drive

An active teen

Lillie Sablich, 15, of Allentown (right) doesn’t let her diabetes slow her down. Here, she practices Irish dance with her friend Emilie Joly of Allentown.

If your teenager has diabetes, you may feel scared and nervous—this disease demands daily attention and has potentially serious consequences. No doubt your child is feeling a range of emotions, too!

“Teens are making the transition between dependence and independence, and it can be a struggle,” says adolescent medicine specialist Sarah Stevens, M.D., of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network. Her strategy: Think of a teen with diabetes as somewhat like a teen learning to drive.

“Before you allow her to get a learner’s permit, you want to ensure she’s mature enough to take the wheel,” Stevens says. “Then, you’ll spend several months riding with her and keeping her safe as she learns to drive. Eventually you’ll let her take some trips on her own—with clear ground rules—and at some point you’ll hand over full responsibility.”

Likewise, a teenager with diabetes needs you (and his diabetes team) to “ride along” as he learns to manage insulin, blood sugar and other aspects of his care. “Then he’ll venture off to school or the mall and manage on his own for periods of time, knowing he can call if he needs you,” Stevens says. “Eventually you’ll give him the responsibility of taking care of his condition on his own.” Some things to keep in mind:

During the learning phase, be clear about what’s negotiable and what’s not. (Taking diabetes medications or insulin, for example, is not negotiable.)

Find out what he’s experiencing, and don’t brush off any feelings as trivial.

Brainstorm on how to make things better—for example, switching to an insulin pump for more independence and flexibility. A diabetes educator can help.

Encourage him to view diabetes as a chronic condition, not a disease. “Some people have asthma. He has diabetes,” Stevens says. “Although he’ll have it for the rest of his life, if he manages it properly he’ll be able to do everything other teens do.”

Want to Know More? A detailed version of this article is in our free electronic newsletter, Healthy You on Diabetes. Click here to subscribe. You’ll get the latest news and expert advice right in your e-mail box. Don't forget about the Diabetes Walk on October 8th.

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