Child Life services and diabetes

Certified Child Life Specialists are members of the health care team who help you and your child cope with their hospital stay or doctor’s office visits. They can also help during hospital stays or in the outpatient clinic. Here are a few ways they can help your child and your family with understand diabetes.

Diagnosis education

Teach your child:

About their diabetes diagnosis
What their time in hospital will be like
How to take care of their diabetes at home

Coping with pricks and pokes

Teaching your child about the procedures ahead of time helps them know what to expect. Child life can teach them about medical procedures such as:

Finger pricks to check their blood sugar
Giving or getting insulin shots
Putting the insulin pump or continuous glucose monitor on their body

Medical play

Help your child get used to the hospital or medical equipment (the machines to take their vital signs or check their blood sugar) by playing with real and pretend medical equipment.

Sibling education and support

Child Life can teach your child and their siblings about their diagnosis. Support is available during your child’s hospital stay or clinic visit.

Returning to school

Get assistance in getting your child back to school after being in the hospital or getting a new diagnosis. A Child Life Specialist may be able to meet with your child’s class to teach them about diabetes. This may make their return to school easier.