New Study Reveals Mental Health Challenges and Tips for Parents
Parents of children living with Type 1 diabetes understand the daily challenges their kids face, but a new study points to increasing concerns when it comes to diabetes distress among children.
Managing diabetes is a lifelong responsibility for more than 37.5 million Americans. Anyone who is living with the disease – whether Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes – knows that it’s not always easy to handle the rigors that come with daily blood sugar monitoring and medications, not to mention the lifestyle choices you must make to keep blood sugar in check.
For kids, however, the challenges of managing Type 2 diabetes can be even more taxing emotionally, a fact that is emphasized in a new study published in a July post by Nature Mental Health.
This new research warns that children living with Type 1 diabetes are far more likely to develop specific mental health issues than those without the disease.
What is Type 1 Diabetes In Children?
Type 1 diabetes was once commonly referred to as “juvenile diabetes” because it tends to develop in the younger years. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body’s immune system begins to destroy the pancreas's insulin-producing beta cells. These cells are necessary for the body to process blood sugar and turn it into energy. Without them, the body cannot effectively use blood sugar, and it begins to build up in the bloodstream, leading to a Type 1 diabetes diagnosis. Type 1 diabetes is not related to weight, diet, or physical activity as Type 2 diabetes is. Instead, it is an entirely genetic condition that requires lifelong insulin treatments and diabetes management.
The Study Confirms What Parents Already Know
Any parent of a child with Type 1 diabetes will tell you that it takes a lot of courage and dedication from their kids to manage their conditions. They’ll also tell you that the challenges of daily life with Type 1 diabetes can, at times, make being a kid seem a whole lot more complex and, occasionally, even isolating.
According to the study, which analyzed more than 4,500 children with Type 1 diabetes in the Czech Republic, kids with the condition are more than twice as likely to develop a mood disorder and more than 50% more likely to suffer from anxiety. Kids with Type 1 diabetes are also about four times more likely to develop behavioral issues, such as sleep or eating disorders, than their friends without Type 1 diabetes.
For parents of kids with Type 1 diabetes, the added stress of managing the disease is well known, but these new findings bring up serious concerns about just how great the mental and emotional toll for kids can become.
Researchers Point To “Diabetes Distress”
The increased risk of mental health issues cited in the research findings is in no way related to any physical health conditions that might stem from having diabetes or suffering from high blood sugar. Instead, researchers believe they are entirely due to instances of extreme diabetes distress.
Diabetes distress is a condition in which the daily rigors and responsibilities of managing diabetes can lead to feelings of futility, frustration, and, sometimes, even downright anger.
This distress is certainly not limited to children; adults with diabetes can experience it, too. However, the childhood years are those most vulnerable to feelings of peer pressure and wanting to “be like everyone else.”
Type 1 diabetes makes this more complicated, requiring kids to make significant changes to their lives. They are forced to watch what they eat daily, avoiding popular kid-friendly things like sweets and sugary drinks. They also must check their blood sugar levels and receive insulin treatments each day, including wearing a continuous glucose monitoring device and an insulin pump.
It is this ongoing management of their chronic condition and the stress that comes with it that make kids with Type 1 diabetes so susceptible to mental and emotional issues.
Lead researcher and doctoral student at the University of Cambridge, Tomas Formanek, points out, “This [research] emphasizes the importance of prevention and sustained attention to the mental health needs of children and young people with Type 1 diabetes.”
What Can Parents Do?
As a parent of a child with Type 1 diabetes, it’s essential to look for signs of diabetes distress – isolating behavior, angry outbursts, feelings of anxiety, and refusal to participate in activities – can all be warning signs of distress.
It’s also important to remember that the occasional display of frustration is perfectly normal and acceptable for a child with Type 1 diabetes. These kids have a lot on their emotional plates, and understandably, they can sometimes feel bummed out about it.
The important thing is to prevent the downward spiral. If you notice a substantial change in your child’s behavior and believe it might be related to diabetes management challenges, consider seeking help from a mental health specialist.
FAQs
What is Type 1 diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune condition in which the body attacks the pancreas and renders it unable to produce insulin, the hormone necessary to transform blood sugar into energy. As blood sugar builds up in the bloodstream, it leads to a Type 1 diabetes diagnosis. Type 1 diabetes usually develops in the childhood years.
Can children be cured of Type 1 diabetes?
As of yet, there is no cure for Type 1 diabetes. It is a condition that requires careful management for a lifetime. The good news is that with proper blood sugar management, kids and adults with Type 1 diabetes can lead healthy, productive, and perfectly everyday lives.
What is diabetes distress?
Diabetes distress happens when the daily responsibilities and challenges that come with managing diabetes begin to feel overwhelming. This can lead to depression, anxiety, feeling defeated, and even anger. Diabetes distress is not related to the physical aspects of diabetes but rather the mental toll it can take on a person – child or adult.
Why are kids with Type 1 diabetes more prone to mental health problems?
Researchers point out the added pressure living with Type 1 diabetes has on children. They must carefully manage their diets. They have to take insulin and other medications each day. Often, they must wear CGM devices and insulin pumps that can impact physical activities, such as sports and swimming. All of these factors can make a child feel “different” than other kids, which can contribute to mood swings, depression, and other emotional concerns.
Are you the parent of a child living with Type 1 diabetes? Do you have personal insights or experiences that might help other parents and children? Please share them in the comment section below. Thank you.
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