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My daughter was diagnosed at 4years old. She is now 9. She does not take her diabetes serious at all. She sneaks food constantly. We hide her 100 cal. snacks because she will eat them throughout the day. She is always high in the evening, and I mean high. I am worried, I don't feel we are doing enough. We address this with her Dr. every time we go. She says this is normal for her age group. She loves grapes and her snack. 1 point a piece. But I can't really buy them for her, because she sneaks them at other times in the day. Any advice, I am so worried about her. What do we do to make her believe this is serious. Just a little background...she was adopted at birth so counselors say her diabetes just may be one thing she feels like she can control. HELP
Responses
Gary Scheiner says
Tough love is probably in order here. You (as parents) need to take control of the situation. Your daughter needs to know that there are times to eat and times to not eat. This doesn't just go for kids with diabetes; it's a good policy for all kids.Punishing your child for disobeying the rules is certainly in order. Find something that is "near and dear" to her (computer time, nintendo, tv, etc...) and make it contingent on her following the rules regarding meal & snack times. YOU ARE NOT PUNISHING HER FOR HAVING DIABETES. You are dealing with the fact that she is breaking non-negotiable rules and not taking proper care of her diabetes.
This is actually much more difficult for parents to monitor than it is for kids to follow. But be persistent. Your daughter may expect you to "give up" enforcing the rules. She needs to see that you mean business and will not relent.
Anyway, that's my take on it.
Alicia H. McAuliffe-Fogarty says
This is very common in children but it doesn't make it OK. Working with atherapist can help as well as letting her know that there are no "no no's"
in diabetes. She is able to eat foods she wants like other kids, she just
needs to take insulin. Making things off limits promote this behavior, so
making things no a big deal, and working with her to learn that there
doesn't need to be any sneaking because its OK to eat is the best way to
curb there behaviors.