ParentingDiabeticKids.com

Laura Plunkett says

My son Dan was diagnosed at age seven and is now a junior in high school. All along the way, we felt it was important to help him move toward independence without getting burned out or overwhelmed by too much responsibility. Our endocrinologist, nurse diabetes educator and various school nurses have been invaluable because they all have similar goals for him.

 In seventh grade as Dan started middle school, we met with our school nurse. Dan wanted to be on his own and told her so. The nurse wanted him to come to her office at 10, 12 and 2:30. They compromised with the decision that they would start the school year with three check-ins per day, with the goal of cutting this down. Also, the nurse volunteered to find him in the cafeteria at lunch, so that Dan didn't have to go to her office three times. After a month or two, at 10am, Dan used a phone in the classroom and called in his number. Halfway through the year, the nurse saw that Dan was making good insulin decisions and started calling the teacher at 10 and just making sure he tested without having to talk with him. By 8th grade, unless he was high or low, Dan was just checking in with the nurse before lunch in the cafeteria. When Dan was sick, injured, or having blood sugar issues, they kept in closer touch.

 Now in high school, Dan made the same transition. As a freshman, he and I met with his school nurse and they developed a plan. She didn't know him and wanted three checks per day. He agreed to call/visit the office until she thought he was ready to handle his own care. The first year, he forgot to check in regularly, had several lows he didn't report, forgot his pump at  home, and was generally disorganized. His school nurse found him and also called me. We did what we could to support her. When Dan complained about  the routine, we just remarked that he obviously loved all the attention; otherwise, he would get his act together and give her confidence in him, the way he had in middle school.

By sophomore year, Dan had adjusted to high school and was much more reliable. He saw the nurse at lunch and called her at 2:30 before sports. Junior year, he just visits her at lunch. Their goal is that he will be independent as a senior, unless he is low or needs supplies from her office.

Meanwhile, at home, Brian and I have had the same philosophy. As long as he is taking good care of himself - testing every few hours, bolusing ahead of eating, changing his test site regularly and eating fairly well - he can have as much independence as he wants. If he starts having more highs and lows, we step in with support and supervision temporarily.

Certain jobs he wants us to do: we test him every night while he sleeps because he doesn't wake when he is low and plays sports year round. I
continue to change his lancet once per day, draw up reservoirs, and handle all the insurance and pharmacy issues. I also check his meter once per day to look for patterns. During the end of his senior year in high school, he will take over most things in preparation for college.

I hope this is helpful,

Laura

Gary Scheiner says

Things vary so much from person to person and family to family.  However, one recommendation that I make to virtually every parent of a child with diabetes is this:
 
STAY INVOLVED.  Even though your child is developing the skills necessary to perform day-to-day management tasks, it doesn't mean that they have the ability or motivation to manage their diabetes.  Stay involved and continue to oversee their care for as long as possible.  Enforce the "rules" (checking BG, taking insulin, etc...) strictly!

Ginger Vieira says

Ginger wrote a blog,  Stepping Back is Hard to Do which is about
helping prepare your diabetic child for the day you aren't there every day!