SO YOUR BROTHER OR SISTER HAS TYPE 1 DIABETES...
LET'S TALK ABOUT IT!
What is Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) and how can I learn more about it?
It is not your responsibility to help care for your sibling with diabetes, but it may be helpful to learn more about it!
What are the things my sibling needs to do as part of his/her care?
How are things going to change now that my sibling has T1D?
I want to help. What can I do to support my sibling’s T1D journey?
Is there a normal way to feel about my brother or sister’s T1D?
Where can I find more resources?
Online
Books
- Diabetes means that your sibling’s body does not make a hormone, called insulin, or does not use it properly. Insulin is what controls the level of sugar, or glucose, in your blood.
- If your sibling has diabetes, you may notice them doing some of these things:
- Going to the bathroom a lot
- Drinking a lot and still feeling thirsty
- Eating a lot and still feeling hungry
- Being super tired
- Losing weight
- Not able to see well or says they are feeling dizzy
- Complains of their head, stomach, or back hurting or may be throwing up
It is not your responsibility to help care for your sibling with diabetes, but it may be helpful to learn more about it!
- How? We recommend Pink Panther books to help young children understand what diabetes means and how to manage it. You can order the Pink Panther book (and related resources) here (https://www.childrensdiabetesfoundation.org/books/) or ask the diabetes provider if they have a free copy
What are the things my sibling needs to do as part of his/her care?
- To live with diabetes, your sibling needs to pay close attention to their blood-sugar levels because having too much or too little sugar in their blood can be dangerous!
- To check their sugar levels they may prick their finger or use a continuous glucose monitor such as Dexcom, Medtronic Guardian TM Connect, or FreeStyle Libre
- If your sibling’s blood sugar is too high, they may need to check for ketones. If your sibling has a lot of ketones, this can make them very sick and require them to go to the hospital.
- Your sibling also has to receive insulin for their body to use. This can be done with an insulin pen or vial/syringe (when you see your sibling give themselves a shot) or an insulin pump. They may also need to take medicine, like a pill, to help control their diabetes.
- To know how much insulin to give, your sibling will need to know what is in the food they eat. By “counting carbs” and using food labels, your sibling will know how much insulin they need!
- Lastly, your sibling needs to take care of his/her self by eating healthy, exercising, managing stress, and getting plenty of rest! If they do not do these things, it could affect their blood sugar.
How are things going to change now that my sibling has T1D?
- Mealtime routines might change
- Your family might need to count the carbs in food so your sibling can get the right amount of insulin
- You also might notice your family eating healthier. This is so your whole family can be healthy in addition to supporting your sibling’s health!
- T1D may cause your sibling to act different at times, even sometimes angry or moody!
- This may be because their blood sugar is too high or too low, or it could be because they are getting frustrated with having diabetes. Don’t take it personally! Give them space or an ear for them to vent. Try to be as supportive as possible.
- Your family might be paying more attention to your sibling now that they have diabetes because it takes a lot of time and energy to learn about diabetes and make sure your sibling’s blood sugar levels are in range.
- Try to remember that your sibling and parent(s) or caregiver(s) still care about you! Let them know when you feel if you need more of their attention.
- Plan times for you to hang out with your sibling and/or parent(s) so you get your special time too! You can also work as a family to come up with a time each day where your family talks about something else besides diabetes.
I want to help. What can I do to support my sibling’s T1D journey?
- Communicate: Talk with your sibling about their diabetes and let them help you come up with ways you can help with their care!
- REMEMBER: Only do what makes you comfortable. It is your decision how much you want to be involved in caring for their diabetes because you are not responsible for your sibling’s care.
- Ideas that you and your sibling might like about how you can help include:
- Some kids and teens with diabetes feel nervous about getting shots or having to poke their finger when checking their blood sugar. If you and your sibling think it would help, you can distract your sibling while a parent or caregiver gives the shot by talking about things that have nothing to do with diabetes, watching a YouTube video together, listening to music, singing a song, or other creative ideas you might come up with to take their mind off of the poke.
- When it is time for your sibling to check their blood sugar or get their insulin, you can help by bringing their supplies over to them or to your parents and caregivers so you are part of the team. Just remember that it is not your job to remind your sibling about diabetes care or to be the "diabetes police."
- Be a sibling first: Just because your sibling has diabetes, does not mean you still cannot have fun together! You can even do activities that are fun, but will support your sibling with their T1D.
- Exercise together! You can take special exercise classes (like Zumba, yoga, or Pilates) or just dance, go for a walk, or bike ride together!
- Cook together. You can spend time with one another by cooking healthy meals for your family.
- Attend appointments when you can. This will make them feel supported and show you care about their health!
- Take part in opportunities to raise awareness, educate, and/or support the T1D community:
- Attend local walks or 5ks for diabetes awareness
- Volunteer at diabetes-affiliated events
- Consider school assemblies or events to educate your peers on diabetes
- Make diabetes “swag” (like shirts) to show support for your sibling
- Attend family weekends at diabetes camps
Is there a normal way to feel about my brother or sister’s T1D?
- A lot of emotions can come for someone whose sibling is newly diagnosed with diabetes…and that is NORMAL.
- Sometimes I feel jealous of my sibling’s T1D
- Your sibling will probably get a lot more attention from your family members because of their new diagnosis. This can make us feel jealous because of all the time and energy they are getting from others, including our parent(s) or caregiver(s). Make sure you plan specific times to talk about something other than diabetes. Play board games/video games, watch a movie, or spend time outdoors as a family during these “no-diabetes” talk times.
- Sometimes I feel frustrated or mad at my sibling’s T1D
- You may become frustrated with the changes that come with your sibling having diabetes. You may not be able to have as much junk food/sugary snacks in the house, your sibling may be acting differently because they are coping with their new diagnosis, or plans might change because of your sibling’s blood-sugar levels being out of range. Be patient and have empathy for your sibling. They are dealing with a lot and need your support. You can also talk to your parent(s) or guardian(s) if you feel frustrated because sometimes they are frustrated too! You can work together as a team to figure out how to deal with this frustration.
- Sometimes I feel scared or I worry about my sibling’s T1D
- You may have seen your sibling get very sick, or even have to go to the hospital, because of their diabetes. It can be scary and dangerous when their blood sugar gets too high or low. Learning about diabetes and the signs to look for may help you feel less scared and more prepared if your sibling needs help. Talk to your parent(s) or caregiver(s) about how you can help with your sibling’s diabetes care and about any questions you have about T1D.
- Sometimes I feel jealous of my sibling’s T1D
Where can I find more resources?
Online
- Beyond Type 1: https://beyondtype1.org/
- The Sibling Guide to Type 1 by Marci Tantham: https://beyondtype1.org/the-sibling-guide-to-type-1-diabetes/
- The Sibling by Michellè Dreekmeier: https://beyondtype1.org/the-sibling/
- Sibling Envy – When One Child Has Diabetes And The Other Does Not by Erin McShay: https://beyondtype1.org/sibling-envy/
- Lilly Parent and Kid Video Series for Type 1 Diabetes: https://www.lillydiabetes.com/type-1-diabetes#videos
- T1 Everyday Magic (a Lilly Diabetes & Disney Partnership): https://www.t1everydaymagic.com/
- Sibling-related articles: https://www.t1everydaymagic.com/?s=sibling
- diaTribe: https://diatribe.org/
- Siblings with Diabetes: An Older Sister's Thoughts on Diabetes Care by Sabrina Lin, Alexandra Varon, & Eliza Skoler: https://diatribe.org/siblings-diabetes-older-sister-thoughts-diabetes-care
- Children with Diabetes: https://childrenwithdiabetes.com/
- Resources for Siblings of People with Diabetes: https://childrenwithdiabetes.com/living-with-diabetes/siblings-matter/
- Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation: https://www.jdrf.org/
- Sample sibling article: https://jdrf.org.uk/stories/type-1-diabetes-forgotten-sibling/
- Sample sibling article: https://jdrf.org.uk/stories/type-1-diabetes-forgotten-sibling/
- American Diabetes Association: https://www.diabetes.org
Books
- My Sister Rose Has Diabetes by Monica Driscoll Beatty
- Type 1 Diabetes for People Who Don't Have It by Lisa Powell
- What About Me? When Brothers and Sisters Get Sick by Allan Peterkin, M.D.
- Diary of a Life Less Sweet: Life With My Little Brother's Diabetes by Crystal Rivera
- My Sister has Diabetes and How that Makes Me Feel by Grace Rooney
This resource was created by Desireé N. Williford, M.S., West Virginia University; Sarah Vitale, M.S., Mercer University; and Sobha P. Fritz, Ph.D., Emory University and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.
You can also find more information about these and other resources in our Resource Corner posts on social media!
Instagram: @SPP_DIABETESPSYCH
Twitter: @SPPDIABETESPSY
Instagram: @SPP_DIABETESPSYCH
Twitter: @SPPDIABETESPSY
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Last updated 10/2020