Teenagers with diabetes need to monitor their blood sugars to ensure their good health and prevent complications. This can be especially difficult during adolescence because of hormonal fluctuations and bodily changes. Peer pressure and an active lifestyle may impact your teen's diabetes self-care, but there are ways to help her manage her condition and stay healthy. Talk with your teen's health care team about ways you can help your child.
Step 1
Encourage your teenager to carry her glucose monitor with her at all times so she can check her blood sugar levels. Checking levels is fast and she can even do it privately in the bathroom. Put together a small case she can throw in her purse or bag, with test strips, a glucose monitor, insulin and some hard candies.
Step 2
Talk with your teen about her blood sugar levels. It is important not to be judgemental If your teen feels like you are judging or reprimanding her, she may not want to talk. Teenagers are struggling for independence, and by treating her with respect and talking with her instead of criticizing her, she may feel more open to talk about concerns she has about her diabetes.
Step 3
Emphasize the importance of following the doctor's instructions about insulin and diet. It can be hard for your teen to stick to a diet when friends are eating foods she should avoid, but help her find more acceptable foods that may be available in those situations. Reinforce the health benefits of a healthy diabetes diet and the risks of both high and low blood sugar.
Step 4
Discuss with your teen how alcohol and smoking cigarettes can impact blood sugar. Teenagers often experiment with these substances, and for a teen with diabetes, this can be especially dangerous. Smoking cigarettes can cause problems with blood circulation, and drinking alcohol can cause very low blood sugar, which can be dangerous.
Step 5
Cook meals for the family that your teen can enjoy. A healthy diet is a big part of controlling blood sugar levels, and if the rest of the family eats a well-balanced diet, it will be easier for your teen to eat healthy. Try to exchange starchy, sugary or high-carbohydrate foods for more diabetes-friendly ones to add some variety for meals.
Tips and Warnings
- Accompany your teen to doctor's visits, if it is OK with him. The more support your teenager has in controlling his blood sugar and promoting good health, the better.
