MENTAL HEALTH

Diabetes and mental health

Here’s how to manage the stress of your kid’s Type 1 diabetes diagnosis.

MELISSA ZIMMERMANN will never forget the day her 15-month-old son, Carter, was airlifted by ambulance—unresponsive and not breathing well—from a regional hospital in Red Deer to Alberta Children’s Hospital. In the intensive care unit, surrounded by IV lines and monitors, “the doctor told us it was Type 1 diabetes, and from that moment, our lives changed completely,” she recalls.

According to the Canadian Paediatric Society, 33,000 children ages five to 18 have Type 1 diabetes, and it’s a diagnosis that can create a lot of worry and anxiety, not only for the child, but for the whole family. In a 2020 global study conducted by Abbott, the maker of the FreeStyle Libre 2 flash glucose monitoring system, 93 percent of parents said they were distressed by the diagnosis, while almost half of the children said they perceive their illness as being a burden on their family. Experts say that a child’s anxiety about the condition often increases in school and public places.

So how do you manage the stress of a diabetes diagnosis? Here are six ways to experience some peace of mind.

LEARN MORE ABOUT IT After the initial diagnosis, the Zimmermanns went through a massive crash course in the management and treatment of diabetes, provided both by their son’s diabetes team and through the JDRF. “As you learn how to manage it, you see that diabetes doesn’t have to be a child’s entire life.” And remember to be gentle with yourself and your kid while you’re still learning.

CONNECT WITH OTHERS If you have any friends who have kids with diabetes, reach out to them. When Canadian actress Jenna Warren was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 16, the first thing her dad did was text the father of one of her friends who also had diabetes. “Within 20 minutes, they were at the hospital reassuring me that I was going to be OK.” Other people with kids who are living with the condition can help you feel less lonely and overwhelmed. Search Facebook for groups of parents of kids with diabetes, or ask your child’s diabetes healthcare provider about support groups.

FIND THE RIGHT TOOLS Many parents hear a diabetes diagnosis and instantly think of painful daily finger pricks. But new technology is making glucose monitoring easier, and pain-free. Talk to your doctor about what will work for your child.

TECHNOLOGY AS A TOOL

A child with Type 1 diabetes needs to monitor their glucose levels regularly. Thankfully, Abbo ’s FreeStyle Libre 2 system makes monitoring glucose easyπ—even for kids as young as four.

CREATED FOR ABBOTT

THE FREESTYLE LIBRE 2 FEATURES INCLUDE:

No fi nger pricks¥: This fl ash glucose monitoring system± removes the need for the painful fi nger-pricking¥ that comes along with traditional glucose monitoring. Easy to use: With a one-second scan, users can see their current glucose reading, an eighthour history and trend arrows so users can see where their glucose level has been, where it is now and where it’s going. Glucose level alarms: Optional real-time alarmsØ can signal when glucose levels go above or below the target range, so the user can take appropriate action. To learn more about the FreeStyle Libre 2 flash glucose monitoring system, speak to your prescribing physician or pharmacist, or visit myfreestyle.ca.

±The FreeStyle Libre 2 fl ash glucose monitoring system is indicated for measuring interstitial fl uid glucose levels in people aged 4 years and older with diabetes mellitus. Always read and follow the label/insert. ¥Finger pricks are required if readings do not match symptoms or expectations. ØThe FreeStyle Libre 2 system has optional glucose alarms. Alarms need to be turned on in order to receive low and high glucose alarms. πData on fi le, Abbo Diabetes Care Inc.

TALK ABOUT IT Ruth Slater, a psychologist who has worked with SickKids hospital in Toronto, encourages ongoing communication and open discussion within the family and diabetes team. “Younger kids will be more apt to outwardly display their stress, while teens tend to become self-conscious and more private.” Talking openly about issues you’re facing will help solve problems and get things off your chest. Address concerns as they arise, make a list of them for the professionals and consider scheduling weekly family meetings to make sure communication happens.

ENJOY LIFE “Remember, diabetes is just one of your things,” says Zimmermann. “It shouldn’t become allencompassing for a family.” Keep encouraging hobbies, sports, fun activities and enjoyable, healthy eating. –Ylva Van Buuren

STOP TRYING TO GET YOUR KIDS TO EAT VEGGIES

Three simple things every parent should do instead.

C R E AT E D F O R R A I N B OW PL AT E

“But it’s good for you!” Sound familiar? We’ve all been there—negotiating, begging, even bribing our kids to eat “ just one bite” of broccoli. It’s an age-old power struggle that usually leaves everyone feeling frustrated. So, how do you get your kids to eat their veggies? You don’t.

“Getting” kids to eat anything just doesn’t work. Sure, you might cajole your little one to choke down that green veg, but next time it shows up on the plate, you’ll likely end up in that dreaded dance all over again.

Here are three tactics that actually work for raising kids who eat and enjoy a variety of foods:

Play the long game.

Kids need to learn about food and eating just like they learn how to walk, talk and use the toilet. Each child will get there at their own pace if we set the stage and support them along the way. TIP: Think of your child as a “ future adult.” What do you want their relationship with food and eating to look like down the road? Will they enjoy eating? Will they be relaxed and comfor table eating a variety of different foods? If you’re not there to push it, will they eat that broccoli? Picture how your actions and your child’s food experiIRGIWXSHE][MPPMRƽYIRGIXLIMVJYXYVILEFMXWERH attitudes about eating. Focus less on how many veggies your

TRY THIS: kid is eating right now and more on how you can enable them to become a relaxed and competent eater who is able to enjoy food and feed their bodies what they need. That means providing balanced and regular meals, but letting kids be in charge of what and how much they eat.

Skip the nutrition lecture. Let kids dive in and explore food.

Young kids are concrete learners. They can’t see “nutrition” or “health,” so they don’t understand these abstract concepts and messages. Knowing which nutrients a food contains doesn’t motivate anyone to eat it. Have you ever opened the fridge looking for Vitamin K? TIP:/MHWPIEVREFSYXXLI[SVPHEVSYRHXLIQF]MRXIVEGXMRK[MXLMXYWMRKXLIMVƼZIWIRWIW7SLEVRIWW their natural curiosity. Create opportunities for your kids to explore and experience food away from mealtimes, with zero pressure to eat anything. Instead of “peppers have lots of Vitamin C,” notice their vibrant colour and wonky shape.

TRY THIS: Feel the smooth, shiny surface. Count the bumps. Find the stem and talk about where the pepper came from. Research how it grew. Cut a pepper open together and notice what’s inside. Breathe in its rich, earthy smell.

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Food nourishes us with so much more than nutrients. It’s how we socialize, comfort, celebrate and make memories together. It’s culture and tradition. TIP:ƈ,IEPXL]IEXMRKƉWXEVXW[MXLIRNS]MRKJSSH8LMWQIERWWEZSYVMRKXLIƽEZSYVWEVSQEWERHGSPSYVW on your plate, and it’s also about simply enjoying the experience of eating with others. When adults focus on enjoyment at mealtimes, kids relax and they’re more likely to try and eat what’s on offer. Don’t comment on what your child is (or isn’t) eating during meals. Eat and enjoy your

TRY THIS: meal and share a story about your day. Ask your child what made them happy today. The healthiest ingredient in a family meal is laughter.

Janet Nezon is a mom of three, a grandmother and the founder of Rainbow Plate; a Toronto-based social enterprise on a mission to help kids cultivate relaxed and positive relationships with food.

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