Key Takeaways
- Start by getting in touch with your own emotions so you can better explain them to your loved ones.
- Reassure children that you’re taking care of your health, and get them involved in basic at-home management.
- Be open and honest with friends and family, and set boundaries if needed.
The idea of explaining diabetes to a child, friend, or family member can be frightening. Even well-intentioned loved ones can accidentally leave you feeling judged, misunderstood, vulnerable, and pitied.
These complicated feelings are a normal part of living with a chronic health condition that can be difficult to escape. How you approach and navigate the conversation makes a big difference, for both you and them.
The Conversation Is Mutually Beneficial
Living with diabetes is difficult. It’s important that your loved ones understand why you may not always be in a cheerful mood.
With that said, diabetes lived is different than diabetes explained. Even the most supportive, empathetic people in your life can’t fully understand what you’re dealing with without walking in your shoes. That’s not their fault, but it can cause friction without clear, transparent communication.
This conversation benefits everyone involved. Your loved one will feel reassured about your health and gain a better understanding of your emotions and lifestyle. Your support system grows, and you can start living with diabetes more openly without a looming fear of being judged.
Start by Connecting With Yourself
Diabetes burnout is very real and very normal. You’re going to feel stressed, tired, and angry at times. To appropriately explain those feelings to someone else, you first need to process them yourself.
Before having the conversation, we recommended reading this guide: What They Don’t Talk About: The Emotional and Mental Exhaustion of Diabetes.
Know Your Audience
There’s a difference between how you’ll approach explaining diabetes to a child and a close friend or adult family member.
For Kids:
To a child, living with diabetes can seem scary, and they may not have a firm grasp on health conditions in general. They’ll need an explanation of how diabetes affects you and extra reassurance that you’re taking care of yourself.
Rather than try to hide diabetes management from little ones, be open and honest (without getting into details that could frighten them).
Beyond the first conversation, keep the lines of communication open. For example, when you’re using diabetes testing kits, explain why you need to test your levels in the first place. Then, when you use insulin syringes or a diabetic pen, explain to them that taking insulin keeps you healthy. Kids are naturally curious, so don’t leave them guessing!
Sometimes living with diabetes takes a village. Including children in your at-home diabetes management can make them feel special, valued, and helpful. For example, they could remind you when to check your levels or help you pick out diabetes-friendly groceries.
For Friends:
With friends, you can typically be more direct compared to explaining diabetes to a child. Of course, diabetes explained will look different from friend to friend, so consider your relationship.
If you regularly confide in a close friend, this is just an extension of that. Open up, and don’t hold back! For casual friends, you may want to start by explaining the facts and then elaborating further if you feel comfortable.
Start by explaining what diabetes is and what living with diabetes is like. Explain that your body doesn’t produce enough insulin or is unable to use the insulin it produces. Address common diabetes myths and misconceptions, like the idea that diabetes is directly caused by eating too much sugar and fatty foods.
Tell your friend directly what (if anything) they can do to help. And, set boundaries, if needed. For example, you could politely request that they don’t comment on your meal choices or mention your condition in public.
For Family:
Depending on the relationship, your family member may want to get more involved. If you prefer living with diabetes independently, politely make that clear. If you’d appreciate their help, explain what they can do to be part of this side of your life, as well as restrictions you’d like to be in place.
For example, maybe you’d appreciate having family dinners with healthier food options. On the other hand, maybe you’d prefer to visit health care professionals on your own. Just like with friends, be clear about the support you appreciate and the boundaries not to cross.
Unlike explaining diabetes to a child, your adult family member has already known you for a very long time. Be honest about living with diabetes, and reassure them that you’re still the same person you always were. Sure, things are different, but they’re still the same in many ways. Lean on the comfort of familiarity.
Control the Narrative
Diabetes explained looks very different from person to person. Some people are very open about their personal lives; others are more private. If you’re uncomfortable sharing details, you don’t have to. This is your story. How much of it you tell is your choice and nobody else’s.
Write Down Key Points
What are you hoping to convey and accomplish? Having notes can keep the conversation focused. Here are some topics to get you started:
- What living with diabetes entails
- What your daily routine looks like
- A basic explanation of what diabetes is
- Clearing up common misconceptions
- How they can help
- Boundaries you wish to set
- Your emotions and how you manage them
- Your long-term plan for staying healthy
Shop Affordable Diabetes Supplies
Explaining diabetes to a child, friend, or family member is a significant step, but remember that these are people you love and care about, and they feel the exact same way about you. Just knowing that they’re aware can work wonders in helping you feel less alone.
Using the right diabetic supplies is another major part of living with diabetes. While you’re here, shop essentials like diabetic pen needles, insulin supplies, and the least expensive glucose test strips. Shop discount diabetic supplies from trusted medical brands.
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