It's all too easy to use diabetes as an excuse. Pat wants to sleep over at a friend's house. A nervous Dad doesn't want her to go. When Pat asks why, Dad can't think of a good answer. Dad is using diabetes to solve another problem.
Children learn by example.
Later on Pat may start to use diabetes as an easy excuse or a way to get special treatment. The problems diabetes poses will change as your child grows and matures. This guide gives some basics. Many other resources provide detailed information on each of these topics and more. You might try talking to your child's health care team, reading books and articles, calling the American Diabetes Association, taking a parenting course, or joining or starting a parents' support group.