Infants | Children from 1.5 to 3 years | Preschoolers | Children in elementary school
The psychological effect of diabetes on the family varies in different age intervals and depends on the stages of development of the child and his needs. Let’s talk about the features of diabetes in the family from infancy to elementary school.
Infants (0-1.5 years)
Diagnosis at any age inevitably causes stress in the family. However, during this period, the main difficulty is associated with the fact that increasing psychological pressure on parents also affects the child. We pass on our emotional attitude to such small children. If you get stuck in a feeling of depression and uncertainty, the child will not be able to feel the proper sense of security. At such moments, the psychological state of the parents is an even more important aspect.
This is a bit like an emergency situation in an airplane: first of all, a parent puts on an oxygen mask to help his child.
At this age, the child is still not able to understand why you need to eat, in the absence of hunger, or endure pain and fear from frequent injections. To relieve stress, the process of measuring blood glucose levels or an injection should take place without unnecessary admonitions and quickly. After an unpleasant procedure, calm the child and take pity.
Children from 1.5 to 3 years
The time when self-awareness comes, parents begin to test their strength and their ability to set the rules of the game and boundaries. This means that it will be quite difficult for you to make a child eat when he does not want to, and also to cope with situations when he runs away from you and the syringe pen. This is the time when you need to be persistent and set limits (even if they are unpleasant for the child). In an extreme case, you can resort to the authoritarian style of education “I said so!”, But it is advisable to explain in a calm tone why you are doing something.
If there are no clear restrictions, the child will try to establish them himself, throwing you new tricks. It is necessary to designate many times what can be done and what cannot. Be persistent, but never be frustrated by a child.
There is also the danger of losing control if parents try to compensate for diabetes restrictions by allowing them to do or choose something in return. Self-control should be included as part of the lifestyle, and not lay the foundation of the “punishment-encouragement” game.
Preschoolers (3-6 years old)
Continuing the topic of punishment — at the age of 3 to 6 years there is an understanding of conscience, guilt, as well as a primitive understanding of retribution. In children, the awareness is formed that the body can experience pleasant sensations and unpleasant, like pain. This is a period of active formation of behavioral models, role-playing games and rich imagination. Children with diabetes at this time may perceive diabetes as a punishment for their incorrect behavior. With glucose measurements and injections, the same story can occur.
Young children may not talk much, but internally ask quite serious questions. What can I say if sometimes even adults ask themselves and the Universe: “What have I done? Why am I going through all of this?”
It is at this time that it is especially important to explain to the child how his body works, that he is not to blame for anything, he has certain needs, and this way of life comes from here.
Develop partnerships with your child, talk a lot. Try to explain as much as possible and more clearly, even if he / she did not ask questions.
Monitor your condition too. If you are nervous and show fear, then the child may misinterpret it and close it.
The question I want / do not want to become even sharper in food. It can be difficult to get the whole portion of insulin to be eaten. Try to give him freedom of choice in some simple everyday topics.
Psychologists advise not to tell a child of this age about unpleasant things, such as injecting and measuring glucose, much in advance. Children tend to fantasize and exaggerate the horror of the situation to an incredible extent.
Children in elementary school
A difficult period in terms of adaptation to school, active interaction with other children, school food issues and fear of hypoglycemia. The classic tip is to talk a lot with your child. Explain that he is not very different from others, and his health and behavior are quite normal.
A school is a lot of organizational issues. Here you need to talk with teachers and think over the possibilities for one of the parents to quickly get to school if something goes wrong. In general, the topic of hypoglycemia needs to be discussed in great detail. Often, school personnel begin to realize the seriousness of the situation only after they have seen an episode of sugar reduction. It’s better to learn not from your mistakes!
The diagnosis of diabetes at a young age is more shocking for parents than for children. Do not forget that their reaction will be symmetrical to yours.
School food may not be pleasant to the child. If he will not eat it or will not eat it completely, it is better to think over some snacks that he will take with him.
A painful question for many parents is where to give the child an injection. Someone considers it normal to do this right in the classroom, others advise contacting school honey. study, older children often go to the toilet to inject insulin. Whatever you decide, try to enlist the support of a teacher and school nurse. Especially when it comes to first grades. It is good if the nurse helps the child do everything right.
The diagnosis of diabetes at a young age is more shocking for parents than for children. Do not forget that their reaction will be symmetrical to yours. Therefore, mom and dad need to get from the shock station to adoption very quickly, and then sit down for textbooks and live a bit in social networks, talking with other parents of sweet children. If you are not very lucky in the hospital and you have not received enough support, look for it elsewhere: magazines, patient and parent organizations. You are not alone; diabetes is not a sentence!