What Can I Do To Help My Best Friend Who Has Diabetes?
Posted in Definition on 09. Feb, 2010
He is 13 and has type 1 diabetes. We are really close and he is always talking about it (how it sucks to have it). I really want to help him because he seems so helpless. I need info. Ex. What do i do if he needs help like if he does not have his insulator?
Treating and managing diabetes is difficult enough without the added pain of pinprick blood monitoring and painful insulin injections. The number of times a diabetic has to test blood sugar levels and administer insulin depends on their individual diabetic situation. Although diabetes cures and permanent treatments are on the horizon, for the moment accurate and diligent prevention strategies are the key to managing diabetes successfully. Two areas in particular cause diabetics pain – administering insulin and monitoring the blood.
I,too,have type 1 diabetes(since age 12.) I agree with tkquesti.. that the most important thing is to be wary of low blood sugar(he’ll probably notice before you do,but it’s certainly good to have someone looking out for you.)FYI,insulin shock can be caused by too much insulin,but also by not eating enough,or exerting yourself beyond usual levels.
The thing I can tell you about being diagnosed at that age is that he may feel different than “normal”people(seems to matter a lot at that age.) anything you can do to reassure him his condition is not his identity will no doubt help ease his mind.
He’ll get used to the routine of taking care of his diabetes.Encourage him to do so :it will make a huge difference in his health over the course of his life if he keeps his blood glucose levels under reasonable control. Good luck to you both!
The best thing you can do for him is to learn the symptoms of insulin shock. If starts not making any sense, looks confused, or worse faints, you are looking at his blood sugar dropping too low and it is a medical emergency. He needs to eat something sugary QUICKLY and you need to call 911. If left untreated without sugar too long, he can literally die.
It is his responsibility to carry the equipment he needs to monitor himself. It is his body and his problem. He needs to learn to live with it. He really does not have any choice.
Just listen to him talk. Other than being a good friend and watch for signs of problems, there is not much you can do for him.
Make sure you always have lollies on you, be supportive and listen. Read about diabities on the internet so you can learn more about it. Maybe ask his parents for some more information on his medications.