You Can Do It!

Tips for parents of newly-diagnosed type 1s.

- Marina Chaparro

TYPE 1

Learning your child has type 1 diabetes can be an emotional and overwhelming experience for parents. Here are tips from Marina Chaparro, a mum with type 1 diabetes who is also a certified diabetes educator

If you’re the parent of a child with type 1 diabetes, you will never forget the date and exact moment you first learn about the diagnosis.

Life changes forever on that day. The first weeks and months can be overwhelming and filled with emotion. It takes time to adjust to this new lifestyle.

As a parent, it can be very challenging to assimilate. But know this: diabetes is not your fault, and there is nothing you could have done to prevent it. The exact causes of type 1 diabetes are still unknown and extensive research is under way to one day find a cure.

Forget the word ‘diet’

There is no such thing as a ‘diabetic diet’. You might be inclined to buy items at the supermarket that are labeled ‘diabetic friendly’ or ‘sugar-free’, but the reality is your child with diabetes doesn’t need ‘diabetic foods’. The primary nutritional goal for children with diabetes is to balance carbohydrates with the right amount of insulin. Children should have wholesome nutrition that includes plenty of fruit, whole grains, vegies and protein.

I speak from personal and professional experience. I was diagnosed with type 1 at age 16 and grew up to become a certified diabetes educator specialising in children and adolescents. This means I can share an important lesson: type 1 diabetes is not a disability, it is a chronic condition in which the pancreas simply stopped working.