My 12-year-old son is keen to go out with his mates during the holidays, but I’m worried he’ll forget his BGLs. What should I do?

Whatever age you child is, there is going to be stress at this time of the year with the change of pace around the summer holidays. Instead of their steady school routine, kids have weeks of freedom to fill and this inevitably sees them =testing the boundaries as they seek more independence.

It can be a relief to be excused the daily task of finding ways to keep them entertained. But with this comes more that a twinge of anxiety. Especially when you r child has diabetes. Weather its my younger boys going skateboarding or my older two heading off to a party, its always in the back of my mind- I hope they are ok, but I cant watch them every minute and don’t want to cramp their style, so I have a few strategies in place to keep them safe.

I have always encouraged discipline in the way they manage their diabetes and insist on the same commitment for blood glucose testing. Food intake and exercise putting in place good self-care habits is my priority. As it lays foundations a=that will enable them to develop the confidence to become independent and take responsibility for their own care.

Helping them to be organized is a great start so when they are away form home, they are prepared, remind them to keep their equipment with them at all times and be on the alert for hypo symptoms when they are more active.

Sleepovers can be daunting, so it’s important to prime the parents about your child’s needs. Our kids take their Diabete-ezy Management Plans with them, so the parent caring for them knows what to do in case of a hypo or other problem. They all have a mobile for emergencies. So I send a text reminding them to test, then text back their level. The younger kids can be embarrassed to admit they are not feeling 100 percent so with this arrangement I can call the parents to advise them if there is a problem.

While our kids are open about their condition, there are times when they prefer to be discreet so I fill a test wipe dispenser box with jellybeans – just enough carbs to treat a hypo- and they pop the box in their pocket or pump belt with their phone a great disguise and everything is right there, if needed!

It does take courage to allow your child freedom but by educating and giving them a clear understanding of what is expected of them you set them up to live a relatively normal and positive life once they are no longer under your daily influence.