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Diabetes in Children Topics..

 
You are here : home > Diabetes in Children > Related Articles on Diabetes in Children > Diabetic Parents and Child's Health

Diabetic Parents and Child's Health

Diabetic Parents and Child

Diabetes can be a life threatening disease if not monitored. Diabetes is a genetic disease so it travels from parents to children. Parents and child both having diabetes can lead a normal life with some changes. Parents can be a role model to their child in their approach towards dealing with diabetes. Read on some tips on dealing with diabetes.

The Genetic Risk Factors

Diabetes is a genetic disease and this becomes apparent when one of the parent or both the parents are already suffering from the disease or are carriers of the disease. If any one of the parents are affected by Type 2 diabetes the child born to the couple will contract the disease.

But if one or both the parents have Type 1 diabetes, the child may or may not contract the disease. If the father has type 1 diabetes, it is only 1:17 chance that the child will have the disease. If the mother is affected by Type 1 diabetes, the chance is 1:25. And if both the parents are affected by Type 1 diabetes, the ration stands at 4 out of every 10 instances.

Then if one of the parents has Type 2 diabetes the ratio stands at 1:7. If both the parents have this disease the risk factor multiplies as one in every second instance.

So once you are aware of you and your partner’s diabetic status, you also get a clear idea especially during your prenatal consultation on the likelihood of your offspring contracting this disease. Diabetes is no doubt a concern for life, but it should be treated as an impediment to lead a normal life.

If you are ready to follow a few restrictions you can not only ensure good health for yourselves but a healthy and happy life to your kid as well. Do not develop a distressed and negative attitude as the child will take cue from your behavior and feel dejected about his condition as well. One just needs to accept the fact that the condition can definitely be controlled and all you need is acceptance, awareness and willingness to follow guidelines.

Do not Adopt a High Demand Approach

Parents with diabetes often make this mistake of adopting this approach whereby they end up going overboard with their diabetes management. As a result they punish the kid on diabetes issues and this has a definite negative bearing on the psychological development of the child. He begins to hate his existence whereby he is made to feel that he is confined to the life of a prisoner and bereft of any joys that he finds his peers are having. This affects the self-esteem of the kid and result is acute behavioral issues. So, it is advisable to go easy so that your overinvestment does not backfire. Never allow an interpersonal conflict to develop between you and your child.

Be ‘Natural’ in Your Approach

You know what diabetes means and now you need to help your child understand what the disease is all about. Be clear and absolute with facts when you are explaining the disease and its possible outcomes to him. Do it in a matter of fact manner and obviously in a way that he can understand. Help him realise that following a strict routine, be it in the form of diet control, medications and regular checkups, are simply ways that will help him deal with the disease in a better way. These are not barriers before a “normal” life.

It is your attitude that matters when you are parenting a diabetic child. In order to ensure that there is no negative impact on his health, you must see to the fact that child is not deriving any wrong information or receiving wrong signals from your end. As you explain the disease to the kid, tell him that he will be in better health and lead a great life once he takes care of certain issues. These are for his benefits and a healthy future.

You Need to Lead by Example

Parents are the first role models for a child. A child’s mind is also very receptive and he is extremely observant. Once he sees that his parents are also leading a restricted life, following diet and medication routines and enjoying their workout sessions, he will be more in a position to accept his disease and understand that this is how life should be enjoyed and there is definitely a way to stay healthy.



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