Parenting Diabetic Teenagers – Part 2
June 21, 2008 by Leila
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Loading ...We will further explore ways and means of how to parent a diabetic teenager. As we discussed in the previous article, by now we understand that it is not an easy task. So it always comes in handy to know what to expect from your teenager. Know that he/she is also going through a tough patch in life to cope up with diabetes, as much as or more than you are.
Living with diabetes is a life transforming experience however; you don’t have to make it a traumatized experience for your child nor to yourself. It is totally inappropriate to jump on his/her back every time the blood glucose levels go high. You may naturally suspect that he/she has eaten something out of the scheduled meal or that he/she hasn’t exercised enough. However, the matter of fact could be that the levels have sprung high due to upcoming growth sprouts. Always remember that your child is a teenager and that his/her body is subjected to momentarily hormonal changes out of no reason.
Understand that peer pressure works miracles for teenagers therefore if you can find another teenager from the neighborhood who is also suffering from diabetes; make arrangements for them to spend time together. It is always easier for your child to grow up with peer support rather than without it.
Some parents discriminate their children in very subtle ways without intending to do so. However, the outcome almost always turns out to harmful to the child in one way or another. Therefore, stop treating your child as a person with illness. Stop materializing the diabetic condition. Never bring it out in front of friends or family in an attempt to belittle the child. Don’t even make it the topic of discussion at the family dinner table because your child should not feel ‘different’ just because he/she has a medical condition.
Remember that creating a distance in your relationship with your teen child is the worst thing that can happen to you. Teenage is a period where they experience a lot of emotions and entanglements such as identity crisis. So don’t ever give an opportunity for your teenager to get behind others just because of a medical condition. After all, it is not life threatening if handled carefully. Instead, encourage him/her to involve in things he/she excels in so that he/she will grow up feeling good about him/her despite what goes on inside his/her body.
Posted in Introduction To Diabetes
