Diabetes in children and social impacts:
Physical activity is necessary for children who suffer from diabetes. Although exercise is necessary for individuals who have diabetes it can also be dangerous because the combination of too much insulin along with exercise can actually decrease the blood glucose levels and can result in the child becoming Hypoglycemic.
Diabetes can have many social impacts on children and how they are treated differently compared to other kids at school. I remember one example in particular when I was in grade 7, my friend Nicole always felt left out, as sometimes during sports class, the teacher would make her sit on the bench during a football match as she was scared that Nicole’s sugar levels could drop. She was also scared that maybe during tackling amongst an opposite team member, Nicole’s insulin instrument may fall off.
Being in grade 7, children at that age don’t always necessarily understand how to look at the situation so Nicole always felt like she wasn’t good enough at sports. Some other children use to also make fun of her and would say “you’re a bench warmer because you are not good enough”.
This just goes to say that diabetes in children can have social impacts affecting a child’s character, feelings and can even lead to bullying.
Nathalie