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My daughter is almost 13. She was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 9. She has been wearing a pump since age 10. Just tonight, I realized that for the past week or two she has barely been checking her blood sugar during the day, if at ALL! She pretends and tells me a fake blood sugar and pretends to boulous. I am devastated and I have taken away her privileges. I do not know what to do with her...help!
Responses
Gary Scheiner says
I think you're on the right track by taking away priviledges. No adolescent wants to do things like checking blood sugar; they have to do it because it is necessary for their well-being (like going to school, studying for tests, brushing teeth, etc...). I like the idea of linking certain priviledges such as cell phone, internet, tv, transportation, etc. to performance of diabetes management tasks. Work up a very specific contract, and enforce it closely.
Ginger Vieira says
There are so many ways you could handle this. And it's really important, absolutely, that you take the time to help your daughter change her habits/attitude around this now. Too many teens continue this habit long through high school to the point where their lifestyle and health is used to high BGs and neglecting their diabetes.
First thing to do: have a conversation with her. Try not to make it feel as though she's being attacked or scolded. Instead, try to let her speak so you can see what's really happening in her head that's making her purposefully neglect her health. It is so easy, especially as a kid, to resent diabetes and want to deny how important it is to take care of it.
YOu may find that just really needs a second support system to get back into the habit of checking. Maybe she needs you to help her remember to check.
YOu may find that she's doing it on purpose, as a form of rebellion. Whether or not we have diabetes, we want to rebel against our parents, but it's up to you to make it clear to her that using diabetes as a form of rebellion is not a choice. She can dye her hair when you're not home or tattoo her ears without your permission, but neglecting her diabetes is absolutely not an option.
If necessary, set up a routine that means you check her blood sugar meter at dinner every night to see what her numbers were during the day, and how many times she checked. If she refuses to check, she will have to face a consequence (no TV, no cell phone, no weekends out with friends). Whatever it is, set your rule and make it clear that this is not something you will ever budge on. This is her health, and it's seriously important.
Above all though, let her speak, and listen. This disease isn't easy.
