Caring for Teens
Raising a teenager with diabetes presents unique challenges for parents. Sometimes diabetes manifests itself during the teen years, especially Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY) or type 2 diabetes, which has increased among teens in recent years due mainly to the increased number of overweight teens. Teenagers find it hard to adjust to diabetes because they're already undergoing so many physical, social and emotional changes and are concerned about being accepted by peers. Teens diagnosed during childhood might find it easier to adjust to adolescence.
The fluctuating hormones that affect teenage development also cause more ups and downs in blood glucose levels. You might need to monitor your teen's treatment regimen more closely to ensure that he or she maintains a stable blood glucose. Menstrual periods can also affect the blood glucose of teenage girls; if that happens, consult your child's doctor.
You might also need to deal with a variety of other concerns particular to teenage diabetics, including the following.
Dating
Going out on dates can raise additional concerns for diabetic teens, but preparation can help them feel well so they can enjoy the date. Talk with your teen about the activity planned, whether the date involves eating or physical activity, and whether he or she will need insulin shots. Discuss when and how to tell the date about diabetes. It can make for a more relaxed experience if teens tell a new date beforehand that they are diabetic, without making a big deal out of it.
Diabetic teenage girls contemplating an active sex life should know that they can get pregnant just as easily as other girls and need to take the same precautions.
Driving
Diabetes doesn't put up a barrier to getting a driver's license. But hypoglycemia can interfere with driving, such that teens with diabetes might need a doctor's note to confirm that their blood glucose is in balance. Make sure your teen checks blood glucose before driving and eats a snack if needed.
Smoking, Drinking and Drugs
Compared to non-diabetics, people with diabetes face greater dangers with alcohol, smoking and drugs. Alcohol alone can lower blood glucose while alcoholic drinks with sugar can raise it. It is harder for a person with diabetes, especially a teen unused to alcohol, to recognize symptoms of low or high blood glucose when drunk or high.
Drugs can also raise or lower blood glucose. Make sure that your teen wears a medical ID bracelet and understands the effects of alcohol and drugs. It's helpful if your teen can ask a trusted friend to act like a "designated driver" and stay sober and be alert for adverse effects.
Smoking exacerbates the health risks for diabetics, including heart and kidney problems. Talk to your teen about the dangers of smoking, drinking and drugs for a diabetic. Other parents and your diabetes team can share their experience and offer guidance.
Support Groups
Many support groups and resources exist for families of diabetic children. The American Diabetes Association, www.diabetes.org, sponsors a parent-run Family Resources Network and sponsors activities in communities nationwide. The Joslin Diabetes Center, www.joslin.org, features parent and teen discussion boards and runs a summer camp for children and teens with diabetes, Camp Joslin. In addition, you can join the community on one of our related DiabetesCare.net message boards.
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Thursday
November 20, 2008
Tip of the Day
Regular exercise increases the number of insulin receptor sites on cells, making the body more sensitive to insulin.
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