Explain diabetes-related tasks in simple terms, and do this often. You don't get sick because you did something bad. Parents must learn to balance the demands of diabetes care against the normal needs of any growing child. Your health care team can help you devise flexible rules and guidelines. Also, talk to the parents of other children with diabetes.
Chances are they are working through the same problems.
Children Five to Twelve T hrough elementary school, children often adapt well to diabetes, especially right off the bat. They are at the peak of their desire to learn new things. They do not easily envision the future. Later on, children may feel that diabetes care takes too much time. Because they compare themselves with their peers, they come to see that diabetes makes special, tough demands.