Diabetes

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Diabetes

STAYING ON TRACK

Adulting with type 1 diabetes

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Putting yourself out into the world (you've got this!).

If you were a kid with type 1 diabetes, you and your family or other care partners all worked together with your diabetes care teamDiabetes care teamYour diabetes care team may include a primary care doctor, a diabetes and hormone doctor (endocrinologist), a registered nurse, a diabetes educator, a dietitian, a heart doctor (cardiologist), a foot doctor (podiatrist), an eye doctor (ophthalmologist/optometrist), a kidney doctor (nephrologist), a dentist, a pharmacist, and a mental health professional. to help manage it. But as you get older, your circle of important people changes. So, how do you take over your own care and start to expand your support system beyond what you have now?

Ask yourself a few questions

As you prepare to make major life changes, such as leaving home, continuing your education, and starting your career (or perhaps all of the above), here are some things to think about:

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  • Am I ready to switch to a new diabetes care team? If you are going off to school, now might be the time to move to an adult care team. Discuss options with your parents and current diabetes care team before deciding
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  • How involved do I want my parents to be? Once you choose an adult diabetes care team, they will be working with you, not your parents. But keeping your parents in the loop may be a good idea. They will probably worry less and support your decisions more if they know that you are taking your care seriously
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  • How am I going to pay for this? Diabetes management and care can be expensive. Talk to your parents about how to handle this and what level of financial help you may need. Find out if you can still have health insurance through them, through your college, or, if you are working, through your new employer
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  • How will I get the support I need? You may want to join a diabetes support group. Change is usually easier to manage when you have people on your side. Your diabetes care team may be able to connect you to local groups, or you can check with the American Diabetes Association

Expanding your circle

As you meet new people you care about and trust (such as roommates, neighbors, close friends, and co‑workers), you may want to tell them about your diabetes and let them know how they can help. When you decide that it’s time to share, give your new friends the basics first. This simple information can ease them into diabetes education.

Tell new friends about the key parts of managing type 1 diabetes

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  • Checking blood glucose
  • Taking medicine
  • Healthy eating
  • Being active

The new people in your life may not know how to offer you support. So, don't make them guess—tell them what you need so it’s easier for them to help. Invite them to:

  • Learn more about diabetes. The American Diabetes Association has lots of information. You can direct friends there to learn the type 1 diabetes basics
  • Let them help when you need it. Maybe it’s going to a drug store for you if your supplies are running low. Or having healthy food and drink options on-hand that can help keep your blood glucose levels safe. Even not pushing you to indulge in foods or drinks that you shouldn’t have is helpful
  • Ask them how it feels to support someone with diabetes. Your support team members may not have diabetes, but through you, it’s still a part of their lives. They should talk to you about how they feel as well to help build trust and work better together
  • And finally, remind them they don’t need to be the diabetes police. No one likes being nagged or told what to do. So, tell friends that if they really care, they’ll provide positive support only

You may also like:

Getting comfortable with getting active

Regular exercise can be a fun way to do something good for you and your diabetes.

Staying “on course” when dining out

Restaurants and diabetes can be tough together. How about a few ways to stay in control with a menu in your hands?

Managing diabetes safely during sick days

Learn how to create a plan for diabetes care if you become sick.

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