What parents should know about bullying and living with T1D

As someone who's been living with type 1 diabetes (t1d) for a long time, I still remember how I blamed myself after my diagnosis at the age of seven. My parents helped me understand that the self-blame wasn't warranted. However, when children living with t1d face bullying from classmates — name-calling, social isolation, threats, etc. — they may still blame themselves. It's crucial to let them know it's not their fault and to give them the confidence that even though bullying is difficult, like living with t1d, it's a challenge they can handle.

Here's what parents should know to help children overcome bullying.

The impact of bullying on children living with T1D

Studies have shown that children living with t1d are at a higher risk of being victimized by bullies. This is mainly because they're perceived as different, and they tend to stick out from the crowd if they use insulin pumps, take shots, or frequently go to the bathroom to check blood sugar.

As a result, it is less likely for children to effectively manage their t1d in public environments such as schools, and they may avoid testing their blood glucose or following their diets. If you know your child is dealing with bullies, it's especially important to pay careful attention to blood sugar management and consider using advanced diabetes technology like continuous glucose monitors (CGMs).

Advice for parents of children experiencing bullying

There's no foolproof way to stop bullying, but experts have provided useful tips that you can share with your child if they're confronted by bullies. It's important for them to know they don't need to tolerate bullying and that they're not alone — there are options available, including the following:

• Educate other children about t1d. Consider encouraging your child to speak to their class or the entire school about t1d. If other children know more about it, they'll be less likely to tease or bully your child.
• Walk away whenever possible. If speaking up to the bully doesn't feel safe, don't retaliate — walk away to find help.
• Tell an adult. Explain to your child how important it is to tell a teacher, principal, or another adult if bullying occurs.
• Make a joke or compliment the bully. This might throw the bully off guard and diminish their interest in picking on your child.
• Enlist help from friends. If friends witness bullying, they can help your child stand up to them.

Coping with cyberbullying

Dealing with bullies isn't a new challenge for kids and parents, but now, social media offers a new outlet for bullies to provoke others. Researchers at the National Institutes of Health found that depression is common among children who are victimized by cyberbullies. Since depression already affects for many young people with t1d, and cyberbullying can only make the problem worse, parents should do everything possible to stop online abuse.

Parents magazine offers advice about cyberbullying, such as:

• Talking regularly with your children about online issues. Let them know they can come to you for help if they encounter anything upsetting online — including bullying.
• Saving abusive text or photos. Tell your child to save them and print them out. If you seek outside help to address the problem, you might need this evidence to verify and prove cyberbullying has occurred.
• Considering phone monitoring technology. Try installing an iPhone or Android phone monitoring app, which allows you to monitor social media activities and keep an eye out for virtual bullies. If you determine that bullying has occurred, talk to your child's teacher, guidance counselor, or principal so they can monitor and respond to bullying during the school day.
• Learning about anti-bullying laws. Many states have these laws to protect children. There are also federal laws that require schools to address harassment based on disabilities, including diabetes. If a school does nothing to help your child deal with bullies, let school authorities know they're obligated to do so or seek help from law enforcement.

Blood sugar management is hard enough for children living with t1d. The extra burden of bullying can be overwhelming. If you're a parent to a child living with t1d and want to learn more about overcoming challenges, check out these resources and t1d support systems.