10 Things You Should Do After Your Diabetes Diagnosis
I would like to go back to your day of diagnosis (nearly every teen and parent remembers the exact day of the diagnosis) and discuss how to survive the first few days, weeks, and then months. How does one move forward through the labyrinth of emotional upheaval, steep learning curve of diabetes pathophysiology (advanced placement biology, according to one of my teen patients), and the world of technology?
Dealing with the diagnosis
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The involved emotions are shock, denial, anger, and acceptance. Shock is the first emotion to display on the face of either parent or teen when informed of a diabetes diagnosis. Be easy on yourself and take the time you need to let everything sink in. Ask for support. Your physicians, nurses, dieticians, social workers, and psychologists are there to guide you. As you and your family work through the other stages (not necessarily in order), please talk to us about how you are feeling in addition to reporting your blood sugars. And, if necessary, we will find any additional support you need. Please do not blame yourself or family members as to why you developed diabetes. (Parents: if you are reading this, I mean you too.) Remember, you have to be born with the genetic tendency to contract diabetes and be exposed to another hit (virus, etc.) to trigger the destruction of the pancreas.
Source: After the Diabetes Diagnosis, by Dr. Fran Cogen
