55: When Your T1D Kid Has Violent Episodes When They’re High

Sweet Talk for Parents of Kids with Type One Diabetes

This remarkable grandmother came onto the show to get some support for her newly diagnosed grandson. In the last few months, this 12-year-old boy — who was adopted by this family through the foster-care system — has been living with grandma. She’s observed that the higher his blood sugar, the more volatile his moods are. She notes that it’s hard to figure out how to keep him in range to help keep him emotionally steady.

Together we look at different ways this child — and his family — can get the support they need. I talk about a form of therapy that might be helpful for them called PCIT (Parent-Child Interaction Therapy). I also look at how I might have a slightly different message about food and eating in this situation. Normally, I strongly support the idea that any type 1 child should be able to eat normally — and that we as parents should just cover with insulin. In this case, I suggest some diet modifications so they can keep him in range until they figure out more about dosing — all in the name of keeping his moods more stable.

We also look at different ways to talk to him and think about his highs. Grandma talks about strategies that she has been using with him when he’s been high — mostly thinking with him about why his blood sugars are out of range. I suggest that it might be helpful to direct the energy he has when he’s high to physical activity. That could help stabilize his mood and might also help him get back into range. I also talk to grandma about how to have her help her grandson recognize how he feels when he’s out of range so he can work to stabilize himself, both emotionally and in terms of blood sugars, all with a lot of validation about how hard the job is.