Children & Teens Home: Children | Teens | Type 2 Diabetes

Priorities

Previous: Communication

Next: Time for a pump?

Setting Priorities

You should be aware that many teens with diabetes have figured out that, in the short run, they can have more freedom by running their blood glucose levels high to avoid hypoglycemia, or omitting some doses of insulin so that their keep their weight down. These techniques are very damaging to the body in the long term, because they allow high levels of glucose to remain in the bloodstream doing their damage. Be on the lookout for such inappropriate practices, and help your teen find better alternatives to managing their diabetes. Certified diabetes educators can help them make better choices with diet, exercise, and insulin doses to avoid hypoglycemia and weight gain without hyperglycemia.

Help your adolescent establish the priorities, particularly when there is a conflict between the needs of diabetes management and his/her social development and peer activities. Recognize his/her emerging maturity and encourage self-reliance. Look into opportunities for special holiday activities, camps, and other recreational activities for teenagers with diabetes.

Top

Availability of "designer" insulins is a boon for teenagers, giving them greater flexibility in their eating patterns and insulin dosage regimens. There’s no point in banning certain foods. Instead, teach them how to adjust their insulin to accommodate for what they eat.

There are a large number of programs developed especially to help adolescents successfully manage their diabetes as they make the transition to adulthood. One such program developed at the Michigan Diabetes Research and Training Center was designed to help teenagers learn to make decisions that affect both their lives and their diabetes. It focuses on the STAR model: Stop; Think; Act; Reflect.

Top