How can I get my daughter (type 1 diabetes) to take here diabetes seriously?

Find her a teen support group for Type 1. Even an online one, but in-person would be best. They can encourage each other.

I don't know what to tell you. My daughter has type 1 diabetes also and she does not monitor herself well. She seems to not care about her situation. She feels that if she ignores it, it will go away. What she doesn't realize is that she could loose her life behind this stuff. I hope she wakes up before it's too late. I talk alot her all the time about it and how she really needs to take care of herself. As a parent, I know how hard it is to see how your child isn't taking a serious disease seriously. The best thing I can ldo for lyou lis pray for you and your child.

I have the same story, I am sixteen and was diagnosed at ten. Explain to her that when her blood sugar is high she is ruining her eyes, kidneys, liver, and feet. Every time she gets a high A1C she is taking years off of her life as well as ruining her body. For me, I am a health-nut so I am always worried about my health and that is what got me to take it extremely seriously. Another approach is that you can start taking away freedoms from her. Tell her that you will administer her shots (or bolus if you stay on the pump), she cannot eat without consoling you, and you will be in complete control. Most teens fear parental control more than anything else and if she doesn't start changing then you should follow through on your threats and she will start changing her control. Hope I helped, God bless, andrew travis pantazi

There are two main problems I have seen with a teen with diabetes who was dxed at an early age. My daughter was dxed at age 2.At that time, no one gave her a diabetes info lecture.She was a baby. Now at 17, she is at that rebellious state and she doesn't know the basics. Do not scare or threaten her.I agree with the previous suggestion to get her into a support system .She needs to know others in her place and she needs a basic primer to diabetes. Does she see a dietitian routinely ? Is she getting enough exercise ? I agree with taking the pump away.It will help her realize how much harder it was with daily injections.We have almost done this with my daughter several times. She also needs a lot of one on one time with her parents.Lots of attention. Having diabetes , my daughter and I have little contests such as who's sugar is lower or who's A1c is better. You can turn a day at the doctors into an all day fun time for the two of you.Go to lunch,shopping or a movie. Whatever she likes. Speak to the social worker at the pediatric endo's office who will have some more ideas. I wish you both the best.

I use to work at a nursing home, take her to a nursing home and show her some of the people with missing limbs and huge decubidous ulcers that won't heal because of the diabetes.....She'll either learn or get sick.....either way, hopefully it will get the point across.

This is sort of like leading the horse to water, but if he isn't thirsty, there is no way to make him drink. Can you send her to a JDiabetes Camp? Making friends with others her age in the same boat would help a lot. It would show her that she is not alone with this and not so different. But then again, she is 16!! they never listen to "Mother!" on some front they tune us out as "know-nothings" and there is nothing we can do about it or them. She would be rebelling on some other front if it weren't for the diabetes. It would help a lot for her to have at least one friend with diabetes. But if she would level with her girlfriends, they could help too! Peer pressure is a terrific motivator. I hate to be checking my glucose in public too, and I am a grandmother!! But too many of my friends are being diagnosed with type 2 to keep quiet and under the "blanket"! so I have chosen to do a lot of my injections and testing in very public places.

Let her know that if she doesn't get it under control and do what she needs to do that she could lose a limb, fall into a coma or lose her life. Her friends will understand that has a disease that she needs to monitor.

Show her examples of adults with diabetes that didnt take it seriously (mostly the extreme situations). She needs to see actual examples of what could happen otherwise there is no way to relate to the consequence of not taking action.

Print out the effects of constant hyperglycemia and point out the debilitating effects of it. Things that she cant enjoy when all these complications sets in. She will be blind, she will be prone to bleeding, her sores will not heal, point out the simplest yet activity depleting esp for teenagers. You have to communicate with her in her level and sometimes they will not listen, a diabetic consultant should be on board.