Children With Diabetes Worry When You Worry

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.” Ambrose Redmoon

“Courage is not the absence of fear, but the mastery of it”

Keep your fears to yourself but share your courage with others. ~Robert Louis Stevenson

FYI: It's both "ironical" and telling that my friend Bennett (and parent D blogger over at YDMV) wrote about the same article and subject matter today- and much more articulate than my attempt. Checkout what he has to say HERE.
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There was an article in my Google Alerts last night with the title: Children's Diabetes Control Poorer When Parents Worry," based on a Norwegian diabetes study. It hit home and I tweeted a link to it. As a grown up (though some would argue that fact) former child with diabetes, I agree. Stress- whether it's our own or others, can cause numbers to go crazy.

Children with diabetes hear the fear in their parents voice and see it in their parents eyes when their numbers head north or south. Knowing that our disease hurts our parents is something we carry with us into adulthood. Trust me on that- I know from which I speak.

As children we mimic our parents behaviors- both good and bad and carry those behaviors (and fears) into our adult life.

For years I felt the guilty for being diabetic child number 3, child number 6. I watched my parents reactions regarding high and low blood sugars, I saw how they stressed about our health and would hold their breath at Dr's appointments. I started to fib about my numbers in the 6th grade, because I was worried about my parents- not my numbers. I wanted to be the good and perfect and stress free child to my harried parents. Looking back, I think the worry absolutely affected my numbers.

I understand parents fears - even though I'm not a parent. Your children are your world and to see them suffer in anyway is heart wrenching. And your children (especially children with diabetes) are highly intuitive and not only want to please, but want to alleviate your suffering as well.
As a child, I had no idea what my parents went through, but as an adult who has the benefit of the DOC, I have a much better understanding and am incredibly grateful to my parents.
They past along some fears, but past on to me so many strengths.

As an adult with many strengths, I still have to talk myself down from the fear that a "challenging" number, or series of numbers for that matter. Because like parents of children with diabetes, people with diabetes worry too.

If you can find a way to get all "Robert Lewis Stevenson" (see above quote) on your fears- your children will follow your lead.

I havea few mantras regarding diabetes & blood sugars, and some contain a few four letter words including one that rhymes quite nicely with truck.

A couple that really help me and aren't terribly salty in nature:

One number at a time.
Just like shit (or poop for the kiddies), blood sugars happen.

And.....Diabetes happens.