54: When Your T1D Child Tries to Avoid Going to School

Sweet Talk for Parents of Kids with Type One Diabetes

This week, I’m honored to have Kaylor Glassman back on the show. As a reminder, I know Kaylor from DYF, the organization that runs camp in my neck of the woods in Northern California. She used to work there as the Director of Programs. Now, she’s started her own business called Diabetes Support Partners, which provides support to people in the first year after a T1D diagnosis.

Together, Kaylor and I are tackling a question that’s written in by a mom whose 10-year-old T1D son is trying to use his diabetes to get out of school. We explore all the possibilities of what might be happening for him, including the chance of celiac disease or other medical conditions that might be causing the feelings of nausea he’s complaining about. We also look at the possibility that this poor kiddo is struggling with some kind of anxiety that’s keeping him from wanting to go to school. Maybe he’s anxious about his out-of-range numbers? Or maybe he’s just anxious about going to school? Or perhaps something is happening at home that’s making him want to stay put? Or maybe diabetes at school feels too hard for him? Essentially, we're looking at how this mom will need to be a bit of a detective to figure out what is going on for her son since there could be a huge range of different issues that are causing him to want to avoid going to school.

We also explore the challenge that this mom feels about holding the line and sending her son to school, even though he’s saying he doesn’t want to go. I talk about how the balance of parenting is about loving our children while making it clear where the limits are, even when it’s hard to do that, as it is for this mom. Hope you enjoy the show!