Take the fear out of your child testing their blood sugar

When your child is diagnosed with diabetes, it is devastating. Yet, in order for your child to move forward bravely, you must be brave also. Your doctor will explain to you that your child can live a healthy, productive life, with the proper care and maintenance. He will explain what diabetic supplies you will need and how to use them. You and your doctor will work together to help your child understand what these diabetic supplies are and how they are used so that they don’t seem scary to them.

When you purchase your diabetic supplies, remain mindful of your child and what details might make him/her more comfortable. Find a carrying case for the glucose monitor that has a fun design on it, or that comes in their favorite color. You will find that even the glucose monitors themselves come in fun, stylish colors. Of course the colors don’t affect how the monitor works, but you also want your child to be comfortable with those diabetic supplies that are now going to be a big part of his life.


Once you have acquired the full range of diabetic supplies, sit down with your child and your spouse or other children (depending on their ages), and take a look at them together. Talk about how you will use them, and why they are important. Demonstrate the lancets and test strips on yourself by testing your own blood glucose, and see if there are other volunteers at the table. This will take some of the aura of fear and isolation away from this new collection of diabetic supplies.

Help your child organize his diabetic supplies in the case that he/she picked out. Give them as much autonomy as possible. Of course, you will be managing their treatments, but at a time when he or she feels they have no control over circumstances, arranging and storing their diabetes testing supplies is something they can control.