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Growing up and diabetes managementDisclaimer: This fact sheet is for educational use only. Please consult your doctor or other health professional to make sure this information is right for your child. Developing an understanding of diabetesAs a child or young person with diabetes grows and develops, what they know about diabetes and how they manage it, will also change. This growth and change is a gradual process. One part of this change is diabetes knowledge:
A five year old may know that they have diabetes, that certain foods and drink are good for them (and others not!) and that they need to have insulin to stay well.
A 12 year old will know the same things but at a different level – they may know more about how their body works and how diabetes can affect them, why certain foods and drink are better than others and how to use this in the management of their diabetes.
 Back to TopDiabetes management skillsAnother part of this growth and change is the development of diabetes skills. Just as it is expected that a typical 12 year old will have better co-ordination and physical abilities than a five year old, there are different expectations of a five year old with diabetes and a 12 year old with diabetes. For example:
Back to TopSupporting a child living with diabetesKnowing what to do and how to do it does not always mean it is put in to practice! We know that it is better for our health and well-being to have a healthy lifestyle including regular exercise. Knowing we should exercise regularly and having the skills (we know how to walk, jog, cycle) does not mean that we always do this. Having support (a “buddy”) can often make a difference – having someone to encourage, remind, praise.
In the same way, people with diabetes (of all ages) need support and encouragement. We know that even for young people who can self-manage their diabetes, support from someone close to them (especially parents) is essential in having good diabetes management. Having diabetes can sometimes be a pain and having someone who can understand this and stay positive really seems to help young people with their diabetes control.
The support and encouragement needed depends on age and stage. When the person with diabetes is younger, or newly diagnosed, they may need supervision as well as support. They need someone to remind and help them with:
Back to TopMoving towards self-managementHelping children and young people with diabetes to move towards self-management has three key parts:
The diabetes team can provide information and teach skills for managing diabetes for the child or young person with diabetes as well as their parents and others who look after them and support them.
Please contact your local diabetes team if you would like further information on this or other ways to support a child / young person with diabetes.
Back to TopAcknowledgements Fact sheet produced in collaboration with the Starship Diabetes Service. Back to TopYour notesEndorsement
This fact sheet was endorsed by PSNZ - 14/08/2009
CopyrightFact sheets are subject to copyright. In the interests of information sharing they may be copied but acknowledgement must be given to PSNZ and Starship Foundation. © The Paediatric Society of New Zealand and Starship Foundation 2005 - 2010
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