Dealing with Ups and Downs of Diabetes in Teen ages. (PART1)

Feel good about yourself. Get help to deal with the ups and downs of diabetes. Seek support from other teens and take action to manage your diabetes one step at a time.

Feelings

Many teens like you deal with diabetes everyday. Most of the time, it’s not a problem, you just deal with it. But sometimes, you may just want it to go away. Do you ever…

1. Ask “why me?”
2. Think you’re the only one who feels sad, mad, alone, afraid, or different?
3. Get tired of others teasing you if you are overweight?
4. Blame yourself or your family for your diabetes?

All of these feelings are normal. Lots of teens who have diabetes feel the same way. It’s okay to get angry, feel sad, or think you’re different every now and then. But then you need to take charge and do something to feel better.

Everyone feels down sometimes. You are not alone.

Still down?

Reach out for help. Talk to someone in your family or where you live, a friend, a school Teacher, or your doctor or diabetes educator. It might help to write down your feelings in a journal. If you still feel down or sad, ask your parents to help you find a counselor.
It is okay to ask for help.

Speak up

There are many people who care about you and want to help you stay healthy and happy. Your health care team (diabetes educator, dietitian, doctor, nurse, psychologist, and social worker) can help you learn how to make healthy food choices, be more active, and feel good about yourself. Stay in touch with them.
Let your health care team know how you feel and what you need.

Let your school know what’s up

You or your parents need to give the school nurse, teacher, or other
school staff a copy of your diabetes care plan. Let people at your school
know you have diabetes and that you need to eat healthy foods, eat
your meals, take your medicine on time, and be physically active.
Don’t let diabetes stop you from joining in school activities. You can
do all the things your friends do and then some!

Still my friend?

Ever worry that your friends may have wrong ideas about diabetes?

1. Tell them that you have diabetes. You don’t have to keep it to yourself. The more people know about diabetes, the more they will understand. Explain that your body needs help to use the food you eat.

2. Be sure everyone knows that no one can catch diabetes from you.
3. Good friends help each other out. They understand your needs and offer support. Hang on to friends who help you make healthy food choices when you are eating out.
4. Ever have kids make fun of you about your diabetes or weight? Teasing hurts. The best thing is to just walk away.