Parental support
Parents go through a wide range of emotions when their children have a chronic condition and these feelings often come in waves, e.g. denial, anger, frustration, sadness, guilt, fear and depressed mood. How parents learn to cope with their own emotions and their own needs will determine how they can best support their child.听To care for your child you must first care for yourself!
听- a program for parents of toddlers to 12-year-olds - providing tips and strategies to positively influence your child鈥檚 development, emotional regulation, and wellbeing
听(Tuning into Kids庐, Tuning into Teens庐) - parenting groups that are evidenced based and teach emotional intelligence and emotional regulation.听
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Some self-care tips
- Continue to do things that you loved prior to diabetes diagnosis
- Educate others in your family about diabetes management so you can have a break!
- Talk to family and friends regularly
- Adult colouring, yoga, deep breathing, gym, music, reading etc can assist parental wellbeing
Diabetes and Parenting
As if parenting wasn鈥檛 hard enough! When your child has diabetes parenting can be even more difficult and require more planning, routine and involvement in your child鈥檚 life. Children and young people can often rebel against this and it is important to have all carers on the same page to support the child and for them to feel safe. Parental anxiety is often transferred to the young person so it is important that you have a space to talk away from your child as not every conversation is developmentally appropriate for a child to hear.
Your child is still the young person they were before their diagnosis and can achieve goals, play sports, get a job etc. It is important that there are times at home and while out and about that there is no (or limited) 鈥楧iabetes talk鈥. Diabetes does not define who they are and this is important to remember. For instance, it is not helpful to say to your child when they first arrive home from school 鈥渨hat is your BGL?鈥滱 better question might be 鈥榟ow was your day at school?鈥
听JDRF鈥檚 Peer Support Program is a free volunteer network that connects people who have been affected by type 1 diabetes. This allows you to link into the JDRF Peer Support Program.听
JDRF wellbeing resource
JDRF have released a guide on wellbeing for parents and carers, titled "If you're okay, They're Okay".
This is a free download providing advice on:听
- Support to help parents raise their children with confidence
- Age-appropriate expectations for children living with T1D
- Tips for dealing with the family鈥檚 emotional challenges
- Practical advice on common issues听
Online training for family and friends
Do you sometimes wish your family members and friends knew a little more about diabetes so they could feel confident providing care and support? Diabetes Australia have developed an online learning module aimed specifically at family, friends, babysitters, and nannies who might be responsible for looking after a child with type 1 diabetes. This online module takes an hour to complete and covers topics such as:
- Understanding diabetes
- Monitoring glucose levels
- Insulin delivery devices
- Diabetes Highs
- Diabetes Lows
- Eating to manage diabetes
- Being active
- Being supportive.
You can access this online module here听听and look for the training titled 鈥楲ooking after a child with diabetes鈥.
Siblings
Siblings often worry a lot and should be spoken to about the diagnosis of diabetes and what the treatment entails in basic age-appropriate language, so they are prepared and understand as much as possible.
Siblings of children with diabetes often feel that they get less attention, care and support than their sibling with diabetes. Where possible try and find time to spend with siblings away from 鈥榙iabetes鈥!!听 Young children may like to help so give them a task e.g. 鈥渃an you get a tissue for your sister?鈥 or 鈥渃an you get the iPad for them?鈥
Online resources for siblings
Jumo Health is an initiative set up by doctors to explain medical information to children and have developed a discussing what type 1 diabetes is.听
provide support for siblings of children living with a chronic health condition.听
is a free online community connecting teens living with illness/disability and their siblings.听
Updated October 2023