Teenagers and diabetes

Having a teenager with type 1 diabetes is hard for both of you. Let’s see if I can make things a little easier.

I had parents when I was diagnosed with diabetes (I still do), and they were great. But I learnt the most about my condition when I left home and started looking after myself. The best help you can offer your kids is to let them do the bulk of the work themselves early on - it’s the only way they’ll get better at it, and the only way you’ll get peace of mind.

What are the signs of diabetes in a teenager?

Unusual thirst, constant trips to the toilet, headaches, hunger, weight loss. Sound familiar? If your offspring is showing any of these, you should get them to the doctors immediately.

These are all very common symptoms of diabetes in children and teenagers, and if you're noticing any of these early signs time is of the essence.

Ring your GP and tell them what you're seeing. They'll get you an appointment straight away, or even send you an out of hours doctor or send you to the hospital. There they'll take some urine and blood tests, which they'll test overnight.

Don't panic, or do any of this without chatting it through first. Your teenager is grown up enough to understand this all, and you should put them in charge of their diabetes from the very first appointment. The tests could come back negative, in which case it's been nice seeing you.

If they come back positive, send your son or daughter this way. I’m here to help them.

What to do if your teenager gets diabetes?

The first few days/ weeks/ months/ years after diagnosis can be mind blowing. Life has changed forever more, and it will never go back. This is big enough news as it is, without the list of medications, appointments and lifestyle changes that come with it.

It's horrible. I speak from personal experience.

Nothing you can do will make things any less shit right now, but you can do bits to make things easier in the future:

Trust them. This might be the most difficult thing they've ever had to deal with, but let them deal with it in their way. Offer help if they seek it out, don't force it on them.

Give them time. Expect anger, bad moods, frustration and tears. Don't push back - they've got every reason to be pissed off.

Let them book appointments. Give them the number of their diabetes nurse and doctor, and let them arrange when they see them. This will put the control in their hands, which is where it belongs.

Make it theirs. This isn't your diabetes, it's theirs. Let them take control of it. Let them go to the chemist to pick up their prescription, let them order it, let them sort their own injections and blood tests out. Only intervene if you don't think they're doing it. (They will be - they're smart.)

Should you monitor a teenager’s diabetic diet?

No. What you should do is get them to talk to their doctor about carb counting. They're getting diagnosed at a time when insulin is advanced enough to let diabetics eat a very varied diet, and if they know about carb counting they can enjoy every bit of it.

How can you help a diabetic teenager?

You can help by being there when they need you. They might have questions, they might need you to take them to appointments, they might need you to help them count carbs.

Start by getting educated. The more you know, the more they can ask you. This site is full of information that's aimed at diabetics, but it will be useful for you to read as well.

You can also get in some sugar. I’ve got a list of good fast-acting sugar supplies for you to look at right here.

Of course, you know your kids better than I do. Give them the help you think they need, just don't forget to let them help themselves.

What to do when a diabetic teenager moves away?

Teenagers may well, eventually, move away. Whether they're off to university or heading off for work, or simply fancy a change of scenery, there'll come a time when their insulin isn't living in your fridge. Scary, right?

All you can do is be there when they need you. Point them in the right direction for information, and trust them to use it well. You might also want to help them sort a new doctors out if they're moving far away, and set them up with a new chemist.