Family Approach to Cope with Young Diabetics

PUNE 13 NOV 2018 : “World Diabetes Day is celebrated across the globe in memory of announcement of insulin
discovery on that day which has been saving billions of lives since its inception. On this day I
would recommend for everyone to inculcate a regular exercise pattern in daily routine, eating
healthy diet which is more of green leafy vegetables and fresh fruits”, says Dr G V Chanukya,
Senior Endocrinologist at Gleneagles Global Hospital.

The primary goals of the treatment for a diabetes patient are to maintain proper metabolic
control and to reduce the risks of health complications. Family support can influence the
patients’ ability to adjust and live with illness and can benefit patients’ health by cushioning
stress, changing affective states, increasing self confidence, and prompting change in negative
health behaviors.

Parents and children of all ages with diabetes need support from their doctors, which will help
the patients to understand diabetes-management and effective emotional coping. Mores
important, according to Dr G V Chanukya is that in order to manage diabetes effectively, the
adolescent patients, parents, and doctors should jointly work out a treatment plan that precisely
matches the capabilities of the adolescent.

Family sensitivities have an impact on diabetes management and metabolic control in children
and adolescents. Diabetes is a family disease.When Diabetes is detected in a child other family
members are also affected. Diabetes is not different from any other chronic disease. But it is
totally unique; there is no other chronic illness for which so much of the daily disease
management responsibility rests with patients and their families.

Although doctors, dietitians, and experts are important sources of information, expertise, and
support, on the daily basis the children’s average levels of blood glucose over the past 3 months
also called hemoglobin A1C results are largely related to how they and their parents manage
diabetes in daily life. The family functions have a great impact on managing the diabetes and
metabolism of the diabetes patients.

It is quite difficult to guide adolescent patients to carry out the requirements of effective
diabetes self-management meticulously and on daily basis and here the family helps to
introduce a sense of self-assurance and skill about the managing the disease.
Dr G V Chanukya feels that it is essential for doctors to help children suffering for Diabetes and
their parents to accomplish logic and balance which will help the patients to have good health
without feeling that they have to compromise to have a good life. It is extremely important for
parents to help their child to understand the importance of diabetes self-care and also help the
child to carry out the appropriate self-care.

Diabetes is complicated disease and requires extremely effective medical management. But
along with medicines the young Diabetes patients and their parents also face psychological
problems that can be overcome with the help of support groups, camps, lectures, and additional
education for both parents and children who have diabetes.