What to do after your child is newly diagnosed with diabetes

Finding out your child has been newly diagnosed with diabetes can be overwhelming. There are so many new things you need to learn and teach your child and many changes in daily routines that must be implemented immediately. Your child with type 1 diabetes (t1d) needs you to be strong, and at the same time, they must develop inner strength to adjust to their new normal of living with t1d.

Yes, t1d can be a huge challenge, but after absorbing the initial shock of the diagnosis, take a deep breath. There are plenty of things you can do to to help your child thrive with this new challenge.

Learn the basics

Parents whose children are newly diagnosed with diabetes need to get up to speed quickly and learn how to incorporate changes into daily routines. You'll need to develop a plan to maintain a careful balance between food, exercise, and insulin. Your healthcare provider should be your main source of information and guidance. A few of the key lessons you'll need to learn include:

• How to count carbs and incorporate them into your child's diet.
• When and how to use short- and long-acting insulin.
• How stress, exercise, and illness affect blood glucose levels.
• The vital importance of checking your child's blood sugar levels, and how to deal with highs and lows.

If you're struggling to find the information you need, look for a diabetes education program in your area that's accredited by both the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists and the American Diabetes Association.

Bring your child up to speed

Your child with t1d needs to start absorbing this new information alongside you. Ideally, your healthcare team will go over the basics of t1d with your child, but there are also great age-appropriate educational tools online.

In a helpful video aimed at young kids, "Dr. Smarty" explains diabetes.

Another video I highly recommend is: "Type 1 Diabetes: A Just Like You Film," in which teens and older kids who were diagnosed when they were young explain what they went through and give guidance on basics, aided by advice from health professionals.

Select the right tools

Many new challenges are in store for you, including dealing with blood sugar highs and lows, learning why these happen, choosing foods that are both healthy and tasty, and more. To face these challenges, you'll need the right diabetes management tools.

One of the most important choices you'll need to make is how to monitor blood sugar. Discuss with your doctor whether your child will be better off with fingerstick tests or a continuous glucose monitor (CGM).

As someone who has lived with t1d for 60 years, I believe the CGM has been one of the most important advances in diabetes technology. It gives parents instant readings of their kids' blood sugar levels and alerts parents when those levels are too high or too low. It also helps track blood glucose patterns so you can adjust your diabetes management plan accordingly.

Consider your child's feelings

While you're trying to learn about and cope with the physical effects of t1d, keep in mind that the new diagnosis will also have an emotional impact on your kid.

A child newly diagnosed with diabetes may suddenly feel different from their peers. This can lead to feelings of isolation, loneliness, depression, and other mental health conditions. Some kids may pretend they don't have t1d, while others rebel against their new routine. Another all-too-common problem is that children with t1d are at higher risk of being victimized by bullies.

There are no simple solutions to the emotional challenges of t1d. Check in with your child regularly about how they're coping, and remind them that their diagnosis isn't their fault.

Another important message to convey to your child with t1d is that their diabetes doesn't define them. T1d doesn't prevent people from having fun, fulfilling their potential, or leading rewarding lives. When I was a kid, learning that baseball players and tennis stars also had t1d made me feel a lot better about myself.

Check out Nemours KidsHealth to learn more about some of the feelings that might arise because of t1d and how to help your child deal with them. If you're concerned that psychological problems are interfering with your child's diabetes management, consult your healthcare provider about whether mental health counseling could be beneficial.

Remember to take care of yourself

When children are newly diagnosed with diabetes, parents also bear psychological burdens. They "may experience long-lasting anguish and unresolved guilt," according to Diabetes UK. Just as kids may mistakenly blame themselves for their t1d, parents can also feel responsible. It's important to remind yourself it's not your fault and that blaming yourself won't help your child feel better.

Research shows that one of the most common sources of stress for parents of kids with t1d is fear of overnight low blood sugars. This is another good reason to consider a CGM — the low blood glucose alert can help reduce your nighttime stress levels so you stay well rested.

Keep your child safe at school

Taking steps to make sure your child is healthy and happy at home is only part of the journey. You'll also need to help them stay safe when they leave home. Fortunately, you can turn to the American Diabetes Association for advice. Their Safe At School campaign strives to assist students with t1d by training staff to monitor blood sugar, administer insulin, and both recognize and treat high and low levels.

Lean on support systems

When I was diagnosed, my parents could consult with my doctor and refer me to some reading material, but they were mostly on their own. Today, thankfully, you can find emotional support and learn from others in the growing diabetes online community (aka the "DOC"). The Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists lists some of the best resources. One valuable outlet is the PEP (Parents Empowering Parents) Squad group on Facebook, which is managed by the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation. There, you'll find plenty of parents facing the same challenges you are. However, while conferring with other parents in your situation and individuals living with t1d can be very helpful, don't make treatment decisions without first consulting with your healthcare provider.

It's also important to inform family members, friends, and others who regularly interact with your kid about their t1d. Enlisting the help of allies is essential — while you want to do everything possible to keep your child healthy, you can't do it all alone.

For more basic tools of diabetes management, check out our guide to t1d and carb counting and our diabetes dictionary.