If your child has Type 1 diabetes, and has to prick his finger daily to test his blood glucose level, you might find yourself dealing with resistance, and even tears. This can be a painful procedure, but using mental imagery can help lessen the discomfort, distract your child from the pain, and enable him to relax. The technique has been used therapeutically throughout history, in many different cultures, and can be quite effective for pain control.
Step 1
Have your child sit comfortably with her hands on her lap, palms upwards in a relaxed, open position. She can sit in a chair or on a couch or bed, but it should be the proper height so that her feet can rest flat on the floor. If this is not possible--for instance, if she's sitting on an examination table at a doctor's office--then just let her dangle her feet gently, without swinging them.
Step 2
Tell your child to close his eyes and breathe deeply and slowly: in for three counts, hold for a few seconds, and then out for three counts, before starting the process again. When children get nervous, they often start to breathe faster, so be sure he is relaxed and keeping his breath under control before moving on to the next step.
Step 3
Guide your child through some peaceful imagery. Tell her to imagine a relaxing but fun "happy place," and ask her where it is. Add to her visualization and make it more vivid by asking her to describe how she senses various details. For instance, ask her what she sees, what color and shape things are, what the warmth of the sun feels like, what she smells, and what sounds she hears. Let her be in control of the pictures, since a sense of control is an important factor in helping a child cope with the stress of a finger prick, but give her some guidance and make her feel supported in this mental journey.
Step 4
Give your child the finger prick during this visualization exercise, when he is relaxed and happy. If your child prefers not to know when the prick is coming, gently pick up his hand and prick his finger as he's describing the scene. However, if your child would feel betrayed or tricked by being pricked when he's not expecting it, build it into the imagery. Tell him to imagine a butterfly landing on his finger, for instance, and say that the butterfly's going to kiss his finger. Let him know that the butterfly kiss will feel like a tiny jab, but that it won't hurt.
Step 5
Put the drop of blood on the testing strip and into the blood glucose monitor before your child opens her eyes. Then show her how you now have her glucose reading, and it's all over.
Things You'll Need
- Chair, couch or bed
- Finger prick lancet
- Testing strip
- Blood glucose monitor
