Diabetes (type 1 and type 2) in children and young people: diagnosis and management

Coping with type 1 diabetes

Diabetes can sometimes be hard to cope with. It can cause problems with your emotions (your mental health). You may feel depressed, anxious or nervous. You may have problems with your behaviour that you find hard to control or do not understand. You may have problems with eating food (such as eating too much and feeling bad about it) or injecting insulin.

Your diabetes team should regularly check you're feeling okay. You can talk to them if you are having difficulties. If you are finding it hard to cope, your diabetes team should make sure you can talk to people (such as psychologists) who help children and young people with this. They should make sure you do not have to wait a long time to talk to someone if you need help.

If you're having trouble keeping your blood glucose at your target level, your diabetes team should check if you are feeling depressed or anxious or finding it hard to cope.

Younger children can find out more about coping with diabetes and talking about diabetes on the Diabetes UK website.