Kids with diabetes are just like kids without diabetes… in many ways. In many other ways, there are all kinds of special considerations to be aware of. Some of these, like kids and diabetes in school, and healthy eating for kids, we’ve spoken of before. But what about when your child is first diagnosed with diabetes – what do you do then?

Essential information for parents of kids with diabetes
One of the first things you do is download this helpful (free) book from Accu-Chek. It covers everything from adjusting to the diagnosis and explaining diabetes to your child, to learning how to monitor blood sugar, healthy eating and exercise. And, of course, school! It’s a really helpful resource for any parent of a Type 1 diabetic child.
Helpful information about kids with diabetes
It’s also helpful to have something shorter to share with your friends and family when your child has just been diagnosed. This article covers all the basics, and is a useful link to share. Some of our favourites include:
How to explain to your child that they’re living with diabetes
- Let them know that it isn’t their fault and that their body isn’t broken.
- Explain what Type 1 diabetes is, in ways that they are able to understand, like this: ‘inside your body is a specific thing called a pancreas, which makes something called insulin. But sometimes, a pancreas is like a locked door, which makes making insulin harder to get through. But eating this way, or doing exercise, or taking this medication will help unlock the door and make it easier for insulin to be made.’
- Let them know they aren’t alone.
Recognise when your child has low blood sugar with these symptoms:
- Sweating
- Extreme hunger
- Itchy lips
- Difficulty talking
- Irritability / Crying without reason
- Trembling, dizziness
- Tiredness
- Blurred vision
Read the full article here, or download the book here.
Do you have a child with diabetes? What do you wish you’d known when they were first diagnosed? Share it here so that other parents with newly diagnosed kids with diabetes can read it. We’re all in this together…
Photo by Anna Kolosyuk on Unsplash
Discover more from South Africans with Diabetes
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Be First to Comment