They just have extra needs. Parents learn to balance a diabetic child s health needs with his or her emotional needs and the rest of the family s needs. Also, children might use the symptoms of their diabetes as a manipulative tool. For example, feigning low blood sugar reactions to get treats, or not cooperating during blood sugar tests. Dr. Willis said with older children, autonomy issues come into play making the transition from parental control of the diabetes to the child s control of the diabetes.
Diabetes can become a battlefield of conflict between parent and child.
We can help parents navigate these issues. Future cure MUSC is the only medical center in South Carolina participating in the national Diabetes Prevention Trial, a study that began in 1994 to try to determine if diabetes can be prevented in people who have a high risk of developing type I diabetes such as a diabetic child s sibling. It s our responsibility to give children the best care possible, so when a future cure arrives, they ll be healthy and ready. Symptoms of type I diabetes Weight loss Frequent urination Excessive thirst Fatigue To schedule an appointment or learn more about type I diabetes, visit MUSChealth's Diabetes section . Health resource nurses are online and on call to answer your questions.