A new diagnosis of diabetes can ignite several reactions
including anger, sadness and guilt. These emotions are normal, and you are not alone.
Maintaining an Active Life
Life with diabetes poses challenges for every member of the
family. Whether you have diabetes or are the parent or
loved one of a child with diabetes, it takes time to adapt to the
day-to-day demands of diabetes. Treatment options are
continually improving, so it is important to remember that diabetes
will not prevent you from living a full and active life.
Self-Management
Every
child diagnosed with diabetes will eventually learn to take over
much of his or her care. As time goes by, everyone will gain
knowledge and confidence, be able to celebrate successes, learn
from mistakes, and move away from the intense feelings common after
diagnosis. Learning about diabetes is a lifelong process. Treatment
recommendations will change, and we want you to be at the forefront
of learning and understanding diabetes management. If you are a
parent of a child with diabetes, how you cope with the diagnosis
will affect how your child copes as well. The more you know as a
parent, the better equipped you are to help your child manage
diabetes.
Family Education
Our inpatient education program is designed for children newly
diagnosed with diabetes and their family members. All children
newly diagnosed with diabetes referred to Children's Mercy
Hospitals and Clinics are admitted to the hospital for two days of
initial diabetes education. During the inpatient stay children and
their families meet with diabetes educators who provide initial
education on diabetes management and how to safely care for
diabetes once they return home.
Additional Resources
