What Parents should know ?
Don’t over restrict
You can cry, it’s okay to grieve
Seek help, it’s a teamwork
You’re not alone
Get educated and educate your family about T1D
Gradually allow yourself to be positive and confident
Don’t be overprotective; care and plan & let your child grow
Take out time for yourself; spend alone quality time with your partner
Don’t over expect from the child, motivate him and acknowledge his efforts
What Siblings should know ?
Show empathy, not pity
Educate yourself about T1D
Support and help your parents in your brother’s/sister’s T1D management
Learn about emergency signs and symptoms and check for those while in school
Try and learn to adjust to your siblings new schedule and priorities and dietary limitations
Your brother/ sister may have mood swings with increased irritability. Be patient with him and give him space as s/he might need some.
Don’t isolate him/ prevent him from doing things or activities. Rather motivate him and play with him and engage in group activities like joining a class together, cycling together etc.
What Teacher should know ?
Sometimes s/he needs to eat in between class
S/he may need to use the restroom frequently
S/he may need to check his/her blood sugar in between
Don’t refer to him as “diabetic”, it is not his/ her identity
Don’t stigmatize and discriminate him/her
Show empathy, not pity
S/he may not be able to speak for himself/ herself
Be patient and compassionate with him/her
He/she has the right to choose to disclose or not to others about his/ her diabetes
S/he can take part in all the school activities; i.e. provide equal opportunities to him/her
Educate yourself and the whole class about T1D
Pay attention to any signs/symptoms, especially when the child is not acting like himself/herself
Allow parents to visit the child in class if s/he has to be given insulin