Parents and carers

Playing happy families

How your family deals with you being diagnosed with diabetes, and just being a teenager in general, will depend on lots of things. How you deal with them will depend on you.

People's situation with their parents varies from family to family. But there is one consistent factor: parents were teenagers themselves once upon a time.

How your parents might deal with it

Now, everyone knows that no-one's to blame for your diabetes. But despite this fact, parents often feel guilty about you being diagnosed with it. And as guilt isn't a straightforward emotion, it might come out in funny ways. Some parents will become quite over-protective, others will spoil you or feel uncomfortable around you.

Questions, questions

They can also enter a kind of second childhood, unable to stop themselves constantly asking questions. Now, while this is unbelievably annoying, and your usual strategy would be to make soothing noises and get out of earshot as soon as possible, there's a small chance that something they ask you about your diabetes might actually be important.

How to deal with your parents

The trick is not to fob your parents off with made-up answers, but come to some agreement about what's your responsibility and what's theirs.

Your comments

Always be straight and truthfull with them (as they sometimes can help!!!!) When I was first diagnoased with Type 1 Diabetes, I tried to be all grown up about it, and it didn't help as my emotions just built up more and more I just couldn't handle it. Talk to your parents because believe it or not, they can HELP!!!!!! Stay strong xxx – Isabel

for dealing with parents

Try our quick guide to having it your way when it comes to dealing with your parents.