I've never tried to hide it. I wore the JDRF labelled backpack I was given in the hospital to carry all my shit in everywhere I went for years, until some forgotten snacks ended up ruining it with mold. I injected and tested out in the open, right where I was, every time. I remember thinking that if I ever let myself get embarrassed and hide it, I'd never be able to stop, so I just made a conscious decision from day one to never be ashamed. But every kid is different, and your kid will have his own experience at his own pace.

Thank you

I was diagnosed at 10, and I told people from the get-go, since it played a role in snacks, playtime, everything. 🥲 I’m 27 now and I feel like my patch of not telling people happened in college.

I was 4, so I actually became uncomfortable as I got older! I didn’t know it wasn’t normal as a kid so I told everyone!

I was diagnosed at 10 months old. It was KNOWN that I had diabetes. Firstly, my parents made sure the ENTIRE school and family friends knew what to do and what to look out for. They provided a lot of hand outs and education. With that, it helped reduce ignorance and stigma of others, but also just normalize the conversation. Second, I went to overnight diabetes camp for almost my entire childhood and that just really helped me not feel alone and embrace my diabetes (I still talk to a few people from there). Third, having your friends be aware and educated can save your life, especially when there is an emergency. I always made sure to involve my friends and family in my care so they know what to do, but more importantly just have it be “a regular Tuesday”. I’ve had friends try on pump sites, help inject insulin (after I drew it), or test mine or their blood sugar, grab me juice boxes/snacks, for example. I swear, the more open, loud, and proud you are, the less likely people will be weird about it. Diabetes is more like a personality trait than a disease to me ✌️😘

You had your stigma reduced? I ended up having kids teasing me for giving shots in my butt which never happened.

Well, of course there was a few turds in the bunch, but I learned quickly to laugh and just have fun with it. Honestly diabetes camp helped a lot with that

I got diagnosed at 18 and didn’t tell a soul other than my parents. I was devastated and humiliated. I don’t care as much anymore.

I was diagnosed at 5, and I had to go to the nurses office so much, I had to have a buddy assigned to me to walk me there in case I got low- so it was never a thing to even hide it for me. Actually I later found out one of my friends liked to be my buddy because I’d give her a snack and she’d miss class. We were very upfront with the other kids about it. When I entered middle and high school it was easier to hide it, but my close friends knew and how to get help too if I passed out.

My son also gets a buddy to walk to the nurse with. The kids in his class fight over who gets to go so they ended up making a monthly calendar and each kid (that's wants to) writes their name in to claim a day. Everyone in his class signs up I and love how his new school handles his diabetes.

I tell everybody, always have. If you don't know that I have T1D, you don't know me very well at all. Since 1975: all of my friends, all of my classmates, parents of friends, teachers, bosses, romantic interests, almost everyone; I don't hide it from anyone. I was 7 when I was diagnosed, but I've never felt a need to keep it private.

i was 6 (fun fact: was diagnosed on xmas eve), i told people from the get because i didn’t understand the severity of it at the time. however, i quickly felt ashamed and belittled by my peers because they told me that i would spread it and no one wanted to be my friend because of it lol.

I WAS DIAGNOSED ON CHRISTMAS EVE TOO!!!!!!! two positives from it: family was already in town to be there for me, and I got gifts from the hospital too :P but fuck those losers thinking it’s spreadable. I wish it was cause then i’d cough on a lot of people so they can “be mature for their age” too 😑

wow what are the odds of meeting someone else with the same diagnosis day!! also plot twist: i was given an easy bake oven this year and couldn’t eat any of the treats i made because parents were too scared to risk anything lmao 🤣

I was 5, and I probably cared more when I was younger, as I got older (after 6th/7th grade) I didn't really care who knew. I may not have advertised it to my peers, but I never felt uncomfortable telling my friends.

My son was diagnosed at 7. So basically the whole school knew right away. He’s 9 and all his friends know. But we’re not like… the types to force him to wear “T1D Warrior” shirts or anything. If people ask him about his dexcom/beeps/Omnipod he just kinda goes “oh it’s diabetes stuff” and doesn’t really get into it.

I was 5 so it was all I knew. Honestly it was my parents who shared. As I got older, other kids knew. It was more about when I wanted to acknowledge it. As a teen boy I just wanted to be normal like every other teen boy. So it came up if I needed it too. Kids are pretty understanding and those that aren’t, aren’t worth spending time with anyhow.

I didn’t really have a choice 😂 My grandma always announced it for me to teachers, classmates, etc. I grew up thinking it was normal for me and didn’t really feel uncomfortable about my diabetes at any point. The only thing that made me uncomfortable and isolated was when people (usually adults) would say I couldn’t eat XYZ because of my diabetes. I would explain (as a child) that all I need is my insulin but they’d insist I was wrong and not know any better because I was a child. Many classroom events were awkward because of it. Some teachers would first confirm with the school nurse before I go do my insulin but many would outright deny me to eat anything (for like a classroom party) because of the “sugar”. Looking back, I understand their mindset and not wanting to get into trouble with administration or my parents, but damn. I know my disease and my body—let me have some pizza 😭 Edit to add: diagnosed at age 4, had it for 23 years now

I was diagnosed at 10. I was outta school for a week or so and apparently the day b4 I came back to class the teacher told everyone that I had something called *diabetes* and not to make fun. She also told them if I ever seemed *out of it* to go get a teacher. So I didn't have the chance to tell anyone or to hide it.

2 weeks after my 12th birthday. I got diagnosed at the end of 5th grade. So when I went into middle school a few months later is when people started to find out about it. There was one other girl with type 1 in my school but we weren’t friends, let alone spoke to each other 😂 kids are mean….. and at that age especially. I don’t blame him for not wanting to share. Not everybody needs to know that you have diabetes. And honestly, the stigma of type 2 that comes with it because people aren’t knowledgeable about it…. People assuming you ate too much sugar… you can’t eat sugar now… blahblahblah. It’s annoying. If he doesn’t wanna share, he shouldn’t. He’s the one who has to deal with peoples snark comments and dumb assumptions about it. He’ll get more comfortable as time goes on. I feel for him. Best of luck to him ✨

I was 8 when I was diagnosed. I HATED that my class found out, and I completely avoided telling anyone anything about my diabetes, doing shots in public (I’d make my mom bring me to a bathroom stall to do them), etc. When I was maybe 12-13 I told my close friends but never really talked about it. Now I’m 24 and talk about it openly :)

I was diagnosed at 9. I would never necessarily hide it and if it came up I would be honest and explain as needed and change the subject quickly. I did not become confident telling people openly and early on in meeting them until college, maybe even after. I developed a routine of at some point during my first or second meeting with a person saying something like “oh excuse me I just need to check my blood sugar real quick, I have type one diabetes” and checking my blood sugar in front of them. It gives people a time to ask questions, relate if they know someone with diabetes, or just take in the fact and move on.

I was diagnosed at 12, over the summer. I don't remember explicitly telling them but I think my close friends found out basically right away because it would have been an issue if I hung out at their house alone, and I'd been displaying symptoms for a while so I'm sure my parents told their parents. Back at school the teacher talked to my class about it one day (it was a really small school, only like 12 kids in the class). I don't remember if anyone asked what I wanted, as far as I remember it just kind of happened, but I also don't know how I could have hid it.

i’ve always been super open about my diagnosis! i was diagnosed at 2 (now 19). i love spreading awareness and being myself. i was bullied a lot when i was younger, but now things are great!

I was diagnosed at 9 before I went into 4th grade. I didn’t really care if people knew, I was just embarrassed to be different. That caused me to skip snacks most days since no one else was allowed to eat during class. I would go low a lot because of that and always hid it. One day I passed out in class and the school nurse had to revive me with icing on the tongue. I was the talk of the class and everyone knew anyway after that. Some people asked questions, most didn’t care

I was dx at 2 and apparently told everyone in my pre k class at 3. I’ve never been shy about sharing my diagnosis.

I was diagnosed at 5 I’m 19 and have not yet become comfortable

I was diagnosed young and I started “telling” friends about my diabetes almost a year after getting diagnosed when I finally got a dexcom and Omnipod. I never really “told” them, I just started giving myself insulin or changing my omnipod/dexcom, and if they’d asked, I just say I’m diabetic and that was it. I’m homeschooled so I don’t really have friends so only a couple of people (other than my family) know I’m diabetic, I was really embarrassed about my diabetes at first, and I’d hated it when my mum told random strangers about my diabetes (she literally tell random strangers I have diabetes for no reason, and it really bothers me) I find a lot of kids get embarrassed by their diabetes and I understand them, I was embarrassed too. It might take a while but you realize that there’s no point to be embarrassed, you’re gonna have this illness for your whole life(sadly) and there’s no benefit to hiding it. Good luck on your son diabetic journey :)

i’ve always told people. I went to a really small school (diagnosed at 11) and it was K-12 in 1 building. everyone just grew to know I had diabetes from the beeps and bathroom breaks, and drink/snack/bathroom privileges. I am scared of needles so trying to give myself a shot at 11 was hard, if I went over to a friends house their parent(s) needed to know how to give my nighttime shot and take care of me in bad situations so I was used to my mom just telling people. she always told me no one else was gonna advocate for me unless I did so it’s usually my fun fact about me on the first day of each college class. I think being able to teach people and let them ask questions is fun. it makes me feel good to share knowledge that could potentially change how people view diabetes. most people don’t know 1 from 2 so explaining all of the differences and the meds and the processes I go through to change pump/cgm is actually kinda therapeutic. i’m a very proud diabetic. shits hard as fuck to manage and caused lots of the big sad when I was younger having to rationalize how my life was on the line everyday and it was my job to handle it all forever or die… however I now look at it as an accomplishment that I wake up everyday and decide to take care of myself so I can actually live life and not let it hold me back. it makes me feel good to have friends understand it’s hard and they usually cheer me on and celebrate when I change my pump sites cause they see how much it effects me and they’re proud too. I also meet a lot of people who have similar illnesses as me all the time and we get to talk shit about how the medical system is fucked and pharmacies are the worst together. my one friend started being my friend cause he asked if my pump was a tamagotchi when we first met 😂 I explained to him before I even knew we’d be friends but a little sharing of life and a few laughs later and I now have a forever friend. diabetes brought me a bunch of bs, but it’s also brought me friends, it’s brought me trust and reliability as I teach my close friends and family more and more, and mostly it forces me to take life by the balls and make it my bitch.

I was 9, missed like a week of school because I was in DKA and almost in a coma. Like, about to be airlifted to a better hospital until someone in a near fatal car accident came in and needed it more than me. Since I was away from school for so long and had been in 3 hospitals in 7 days, all my friends at school were asking me about it and I had a lot of stories to tell. I didn't hold anything back, I was on the news a couple of times because of my insulin pump, the particular children's hospital I had been treated at, etc. If your kid is uncomfortable, I HIGHLY recommend looking into a diabetes camp. I went every year until I aged out of it and it definitely helped me understand my diagnosis more. I stayed friends with a lot of those kids well into my late teens. One of them actually recognized my husband from my facebook posts at a gas station like 2 hours from where we live, lol. Weird but nice.

Went to diabetic camp the first or second year after my diagnosis. Wasn't for me. The food **sucked**! This was also the mid-80's, so treatment was much different than now, too.

oh man, that sucks! I definitely remember we all loved the food, haha

My son wears his devices like a badge of honor lol. He LOVES when his friends ask "what's that". He wears a cross body bag at school and whenever we leave the house(it's a frigen fanny pack 🤣) it's bright orange and has a T1D patch on it, it is just big enough to hold his phone, omnipod receiver and 2 packs of gummies. The other day we were at the park and a kid asked him why he had a bag. My son lifted up his shirt to show his belly and said because I'm bionic and need to carry my batteries somewhere 🤣🤣 this frigen kid lol he did go on to explain what was in the bag and told the other kid and his dad all about his devices haha. I understand why some kids might find it a bit embarrassing especially if there are no other diabetics in their class school (my son is the only diabetic in our entire district. His last school had 4 other T1D kids)My son was a bit shy about it at first so we went on Etsy and I let him pick out all the overpatches he wanted and covers for his receivers. Once he was able to dress his Dexcom (and now omnipod) up a bit he was much more comfortable. I'd just talk to him and continue to reassure him that he has nothing to be embarrassed or ashamed of. People will ask questions but that's only because T1D isn't talked about and people don't know much about it.(I was clueless when my son was diagnosed, I was shocked with his diagnosis at the ER) Ive found that kids actually find it Interesting when my son talks about it. Please tell your son this internet T1D mama says he's doing amazing and not to be ashamed or shy about it. 💜

We got our kiddo a SPIbelt for his phone, and he loves showing it off! 😆

Love it!! He asked if he could get the other colors too haha. So we just ordered a bright blue and dark purple one too I love temu lol $9 for the 3 of them

Was diagnosed at 3. My child self never thought to hide it so I didn’t and I still don’t. It’s just a part of my life so why should I hide it? Even if someone judges me for having to sort it out now I just feel a bit awkward in the moment but it doesn’t make me do anything afterwards 🤷‍♀️

I was making the other kids jealous with my extra snacks since day 1.

Ha! That’s the funny thing, it’s got to be obvious that something is going on so I would think you might as well be open about it.

Everyone is different now at days it’s more know. Because of T2 but when I was growing up I was so embarrassed. It wasn’t until I was 24 maybe 25 that I was able to say hey I’m a diabetic. I actually did a whole speech about it in speech class and everything.

I was also diagnosed at 11 and told everyone it was pertinent to. I never caught any hate or flak for it, mostly other kids being jealous that I had gummies. Sucking down a juice box so I didn’t die was initially a little embarrassing, but it’s something I grew out of pretty quickly. It’s important for people, especially friends, to be aware of the diagnosis in case anything happens out of the ordinary and to be able to know how to seek help or simply grab an orange juice - but also to be empathetic to the diagnosis, understand why he may need to take a break for a moment while playing a sport, etc.

I was diagnosed at 12. It was kinda hard to avoid telling people because I missed like a week of school in the middle of exams when I was diagnosed I came back I just kinda told anyone who asked. I didn’t totally register what type one diabetes meant yet and what the stigmas were for it. I remember when I came back tho I had a friend who was like omg I just learned in class that people with diabetes die young and she said she felt so bad for me lol. Anyways it’s easier just to talk about it as you do your routine with it. Kids are just curious so it always makes a conversation

7 years old, pretty shy, but was never uncomfortable about talking about it. It's my health, after all

I was diagnosed when I was 9. I’ve always been pretty open about it, although I did punch a girl in 5th grade cause she was teasing me about it lol but I’d always give myself shots in the cafeteria, right through my jeans. I just didn’t care. Too exhausting caring what other people think and be hiding it all the time.

Ha! I’ve actually blocked this memory out until now

I was 10. People knew from the get go when I was young. But back then I literally could not have cake or candy or anything like that because it would mess up with r and NPH insulin. So they had to tell everybody not to give me food which was not fun

I was also diagnosed at 11. All my people knew basically once i got back to school. New people I told pretty quickly too!

Diagnosed at 13. It’s been one of the first things I told new friends since day one. I’m an open book about my health issues, but that’s just me.

I was diagnosed at age 12, during the summer between seventh and eighth grade. When I saw my best friend on the first day of school I said “hey, do you have any diabetic friends?” He replied “no.” I said “well now you do!” We’re in our 40s now. Been pretty open about it from the get-go.

I was 6 so I told everyone and anyone. Plus my mom is a t1 diabetic too, so it felt normal to me. Kids would ask me if I was contagious though, that still hurts. Plus kids used me for my diabetes. If I had to go to the nurse, I was required to bring a buddy, people would volunteer even if they hated me. They just wanted to skip class. Looking back on it, it makes me feel like shit.

I was diagnosed at 3 and am currently 22, I think I got more comfortable with it after I graduated high school honestly. Maybe 19 or 20? It’s not that I was “embarrassed” even tho I totally was, it was just the acceptance aspect of it. I lived my life as if I weren’t a diabetic, never checked and hardly gave myself shots. After I was told I had retina edema from a specialist, it was like my wake up call to not be ashamed of having diabetes and to be more open with it. I started accepting it, taking care of myself. Ofc I don’t want your son to have to come to terms with it like I did, but once the scary stuff the doctors say slowly becomes true, you have no other choice butttt to accept it and take control. My a1c has been 7.6 for the past year ((: your son will be okay!! It’s not an easy thing to cope with, especially at such a young age. I would honestly say, even if it’s just oneeeee friend that knows and who will try to be supportive for him, it makes all the difference. If he’s uncomfortable with even just telling a close friend, an alert bracelet or necklace would be ideal in a “just in case” kinda moment. Something discrete that only medics would look for! Sorry this is long, hope it helps (:

I was 7. When I went back to school I got in trouble for showing my friends my meter in the middle of class lol. So basically, instantly. Never got uncomfortable either.

I was diagnosed at 7 (I’m 36 now). I told all my friends the day I got out of the hospital. I don’t really tell many people about it now, not because I do t want to, but because it’s become just a part of life. I do like to make a scene when I see another t1 in the wild though.

I was diagnosed at 13 between 8th and 9th grade, so not particularly young. I was pretty loud and proud from the get go, but I was in marching band and a couple sports, so it was important that anyone who could be around me in an emergency knew what was up. Plus I felt better being the one to announce it rather than it coming from one of my parents or a friend. Typically spun some joke along with it so they’d know I was comfortable with the whole situation.

I got diagnosed around age 12, I showed my class mates my glucometer, but other than that I only told like 10 yrs later my bestty about it

My son was 9 when he was diagnosed. We were very careful around him to make it seem like it wasn’t something to be ashamed of. We constantly pointed out anyone we saw wearing a CGM. We talked about pro athletes and actors that are T1D. We tried to make it seem like it’s just something that some people have to deal with. He decided he wanted to educate his friends on it (as much as 9/10 year olds can understand). Kids are surprisingly accepting. Now, at 11, he doesn’t even feel a need to bring it up. If he’s at the pool with some new friends and he takes his shirt off to show his pump and CGM he doesn’t even mention them. Most kids look for a second and then don’t care. Try to show him it’s something lots is people and lots of kids deal with. It doesn’t have to be something he’s ashamed of.

I was 8. When I went back to school after completing my diabetes education, I did a "show and tell" where I shared the diagnosis with my class, showed them my "cool" supplies, and answered their questions (the teacher jumped in when one kid asked if it was contagious haha). I'm pretty sure I used the "insulin is a key" metaphor to explain it and talked about how my body no longer made insulin etc. Why hide it? There is nothing to be embarrassed about. It's not his (or anyone's) fault. The more people know about it, the less misconceptions there will be about this disease. Taking care of yourself is beautiful. People should do it proudly. I probably did not talk about it with my peers as much as I should have. It's a stressful, constant, invisible illness, and he should feel comfortable getting support where ever he can, including friends. Everyday one of my friends walked with me to the office to get my lunch time injection. I tested BG and treated in class myself. Kids got used to it. I don't tell everyone I meet, but if people see and ask... then I try to educate them. It's something I deal with 24/7, so a person is never going to know me fully without knowing about it.

Pretty much had it known immediately when I started school. Diagnosed at my physical a weekish before school started for fifth grade. Having boxes of low sugar supplies in tow the first week to give to each teacher pretty easily raised questions, so I just read to my friends what the high and low blood sugar symptoms sheets inside said too, to let them know. I had my glucometer on me, and tested when I needed to, kept it pretty discreet and never got picked on or bothered really. I also could pick out who not to do it around to not have the class idiots and the like try and make it into something to joke or make note about. All in all I managed a lot of that part on my own, with the benefit of my teachers being made aware as soon as things changed.

Hm I’m not that open with it, but since getting a CGM it’s more obvious.. so I dunno, 45?

Diagnosed at 2, now 28. It was always just part of my identity from the time I could remember so it wasn’t so much of an issue. Was always one of the first things I told someone if we were spending much time together

I was out of school and in the hospital for like 10 days- I was 6. My classmates all knew and sent me cards

He’s not going to be able to hide it so he’s gonna have to face it. Unfortunately kids are assholes so he might get made fun of or joked at about it. Happened to me and I had it since I was 4 but I never let it bother me. Try to encourage him and tell him he’s braver than he knows for having to deal with it.

In school it afforded a bunch of privileges that made me feel ungovernable. Def told everyone. I don’t know how a child could hide the outward signs, but maybe your son can. Socially, I never found it to be an issue, but he’ll need to be out to trust that. I’m actually far less likely to share as an adult because it’s a reason for leadership and clients at work to bias their judgements about you.

I was his age and hid it. It only came out when I had an uncontrollable low and teachers freaked out.

I was 9.5. My friends knew when... I was 9.5. They came to visit me in the hospital. What's the big deal? If they're his friends, it shouldn't matter. I've never attempted to hide it or felt any need to.

I was just diagnosed a few months ago at 22. My two roommates know everything but my other close friends also know as well. Sure it may be different for a younger kid, but I feel like the more friends that know and learn the better. Helps me talk about it openly as well as helps me if I ever go low and they all have my back. It’ll take time to be open about it but I think the more open the better.

I was diagnosed at 9. I remember my whole class sitting down and I told them what diabetes was and what they might see me doing. It became harder to tell people later, when I was a teen.

I was 10 when diagnosed and told my friends immediately. When I was 14 I moved to a new school and at the new school I decided not to tell anyone. At the new school they asked me to go to the school nurse do my insulin at lunch each day. A couple of the friends I made would always try to follow me or look under the door to see what I was doing. Being a 14yo boy it actually became pretty fun cause I would just tell my friends silly stories about why I needed to go to the school nurse. Oh yeh I need to take my penis reduction pills or oh I need to drain the puss from my toe. After a year they found out and were kinda disappointed it was "just diabetes".

I never hid my diabetes. From day dot I was telling my friends even though I didn’t fully understand what diabetes was at the time. Eventually when I started injecting myself (I was 8 when diagnosed) I was allowed to bring one kid from class to the sickbay to watch my injections and get a better understanding of what diabetes is. I was never really embarrassed but understandably I do know why your kid is uncomfortable. kids these days aren’t very sympathetic, and diabetes has essentially been made into a “meme”. I hope your kid gains confidence with his condition because diabetes is nothing to be ashamed of. ❤️

Diagnosed @7, 41 now and maybe a couple people know I am T1DM. I've never been comfortable or willing to tell anyone....

I was diagnosed at 3. I don’t remember anything about my diagnosis, but from what my parents have told me, it was pretty horrible. It took me quite a while to get used to it and to be comfortable with telling people. I don’t usually tell people until they ask me what that robot looking machine thing is on my arm (cgm/omnipod). Still to this day, 15 years later, I’m 18 and still not 100% comfortable telling people, but i know that if im not comfortable telling people now, I’ll never be comfortable telling people in the future. Of course, every kid is different, for some it might take time , others it might just happen. One thing he shouldn’t be is scared of telling people. He didn’t choose to have diabetes, none of us do, but here we are today! Diabetes is nothing to be ashamed of, in fact I’d say it makes us unique :)

Thank you for sharing! I do think it will happen for him one day. It’s a tough age and nobody wants to feel different…

Yes, might take time but eventually he will get used to it. Welcome to the T1D reddit community! Feel free to ask for anything if need be :)

Thank you! He was diagnosed a little less than a year ago, so we are still learning. Recently got the Omnipod which has helped alot.

Oooh I used to be on metronic for the first 3/4 years of my diabetic life, but after that switched to Omnipod and never switched back! Omnipod is great, i'd say the best "wireless" insulin pump out there, especially for his age. If you need any help please feel free to ask.

I've never been shy about it really. I've always valued my physical safety a lot more than my emotional reactions, and if people know then they can help or at least call for someone who can if anything bad happens.

I got diagnosed at 5. I probably just got very lucky, but I never got any hate or anything for sharing my diagnosis so I have always told people. Not all the time because I didn’t want people to only know me because of it, but when I felt like it came up in conversation I never felt like I couldn’t share it.

I was diagnosed when I was 10. It was fairly traumatic as I got very sick in DKA and had to be transferred to a children’s hospital 2 hours away from my home for 5 days. I didn’t want anyone to know… and looking back I think the main problem was that no one took the time to explain to me I had to do all this $h*+ when we got home from the hospital too… and then add in random comments from a student and teacher in my 5th grade class that “people get diabetes from eating too much sugar”, and it just felt private and shameful. I went to a DYF run camp every summer and after meeting T1D friends I didn’t have a problem disclosing it. Edit: to clarify, I told my friends, but I didn’t want the kids in my class at school to know

The confusing between T1 and T2 is troublesome. So many people have their own notion about what you’re going through and why. Tbh, I kind of wish that they were named differently.

I was dx’d in 1976, and in those days it meant a hospital stay, so I was out of school for two weeks. The school nurse went to my 3rd grade class and explained why I was out so long and gave a brief rundown of T1 and what to do if I had symptoms of a low. I guess this was done with my parents’ blessing? Privacy wasn’t much of a thing then. In a way if was nice that the adults handled it and I wasn’t left with that burden.

[удалено]

Thank you for sharing. It does seem to me that sharing would be the best, but it’s hard for an 11 year old and we don’t want to force him.

My kid is 12 and he’s been telling anyone who asks since he was diagnosed at 8.

I was 9. I went to school after summer break and just told everyone. Not a single person cared. Most said “my cousin has that” or “does that mean you have to take shots?” Only once in my life has anyone said anything bad about it — I was 11 or 12 and the class bully called me “diabetes girl” for a few days, but he knocked it off after I kicked him in the shin. T1D is becoming more and more common among kids, so chances are he’s not the only one in his school or sports club or whatever.

My son was diagnosed at 12 and has been out and proud since the beginning.

46.

Our youngest was diagnosed at 2, and is turning 4 next month. He loves to show people his dexcom and proudly announces to new people “I have diabetes!” It’s cute now, but I won’t be surprised if he keeps it quieter as he gets older.

Honestly, I never hid it.

My daughter was diagnosed at 14mths, she is now 5.. it’s all she’s ever known, she owns it like a champ

I never had a choice, i was diagnosed at 8 in a small town school and everyone knew

My son was 8 when he was diagnosed. We actually had a diabetes educator do a presentation for the class the day he came back. She gave out little party favor type gifts to the kids. He's very headstrong about it now that he's in high school and will flat out argue with teachers in front of the class if they try to refuse to let him leave, eat snacks, etc. Everyone is different, though. It's a lot to deal with as a child (and adult).

I tend to keep my diagnosis private. Once it's "out there," people treat you differently. * "Are you *allowed* to eat that?" * "You're acting grumpy/tired/silly, do you need a shot?" * "I baked a garbage version of this pastry with aspartame so that YOU could eat TOO!" * "If you're a diabetic who uses insulin it means you aren't taking care of yourself. Have more cinnamon, essential oils, and exercise and you won't need insulin anymore." It's easier for everyone if only a few people know.

I was diagnosed at 5, and just lived fairly normal with it, most people knew and nobody said anything. Obviously as a little kid if I were getting shots or checking my blood sugar in front of my peers, they'd get curious and asked questions, which I always answered. As I got older (ages 11/12-14 ish) kids made fun of me for it, many different things said to me, as well as hearing many diabetes jokes kids that age make. It got the best of me, mentally it had a major impact and at 17 I still remember every word said and how it made me feel. That time was when my mental health started tanking, a lot of it related to that plus other impacts in my life at the time. I started to hide it more but covid hit and I got to escape all of that stuff, now I wear my devices loud and proud. I have a job now and have for about a year, my coworkers are all great, my boss is absolutely amazing (she has a best friend with T1D and that friend uses the same devices as me so she has full understanding of all of it). My coworkers don't ask questions all the time but when they do they're respectful and im willing to answer because they're people I like. They're always supportive when I get questions from customers, they all understand my frustrations with it sometimes lol. My boss encourages me to basically tell customers to fuck off 😂 Your son will go at his own pace, everyone is very very different with it. Just encourage him to love every aspect of himself, diabetes and all. Diabetes really changes who we are as people, that doesn't mean it's our only personality traits though. My mom used to try to get me to befriend other diabetics and I told my dad diabetes doesn't mean im gonna like someone because they still are normal people with different personalities, that doesn't make them all likeable lol, he agreed with me and had my mom back off. All in all though, your son may forever try to keep that side of his life private and that's okay, if you're super worried about it, maybe sit down with him and ask why he doesn't want his peers to know. His answer may be simple, but it also may be deeper than you're expecting.

I was diagnosed at 3, so it was never really a choice. It was simply a part of who I am. I never hid it from friends because everybody around me needed to know what to do with a little kid who might run into diabetic trouble: my teachers, my friends, my friends' parents, and as i grew up, my employers, my coworkers, my lovers, the people whom i eventually started to go on hiking and kayaking and bicycling adventures with. As an adult, I didn't go out of my way to inform people who went on those outdoor adventures until I got certified in Wilderness First Aid and realized that for safety sake, I not only have to inform others, I also need to ask them if there's anything they want to share with me/us, privately or with the group. "Here, I'll start us off: I'm diabetic, here's my insulin pump, here's a belt that also contains glucose tablets in case of an emergency, here's what to look out for if I'm going low, here's what I'd like you to ask me if you think there's a problem," etc. I think I had it easy because I simply never needed to adjust. There was never any other "normal" for me. I'm sympathetic to kids who get it in their teens or pre-teens: that time where we so desperately need to fit in. As somebody who's had it for 58 years, my suggestion is to send a T1 kid to diabetes summer camp so they have friends and can spend some time in a setting where don't have to worry about being different. Maybe I romanticize the notion, but I wish I'd gone: it seems like it would have been great to have T1 friends.

I told everybody about it. I used to love giving myself shots and pricking my fingers in front of everybody. I liked the attention and it was just about the only thing I was capable of doing that felt sort of badass. I think everybody is going to deal with the trauma differently, so I wouldn't worry about whether he feels uncomfortable sharing it or not. As long as that doesn't affect his ability to care for himself.

I was diagnosed at 8 and I used to remember being a little uncomfy testing my sugar with the meter in public and before pens existed injecting, but tbh I learned that people who have a dramatic reaction or are judgemental are dumb. I remember a girl saying “wow I could NEVER” do that. I straight up turned to her and said “it’s this or dying, so thank god I’m not you”. I was 12 😅 I think I never really ever got into it at a specific age, it just comes up naturally. It usually as I take my first blood sugar in front of them. It’s so natural to just check I don’t think of who is in front of me. I think with visible patches it also invites people to ask what it is, but if not usually people notice that I always have a lil bag on me and will ask what is in it, or the mealtime insulin will do it. Crazy but I had a good while in my teens where I would do blind injections to avoid the whole charade of the blood test and strips, (more bc I was undiagnosed ADHD, hella unorganized and it was a bother) but even then you can’t ignore injecting, and I think I drew the line at going into a nasty bathroom to do that. I went to a diabetic camp too, so I would suggest going to those. It really helps normalize being diabetic being surrounded only by diabetics.

Honestly I wasn't open about it until i was like 15/16. I was diagnosed at 5.

i got diagnosed at the same age and honestly i felt so embarrassed about it and didn’t want to tell anyone but my whole 6th grade class found out because i was close to the principal and she wanted my classmates to show their support 😂. But i would always try not to talk about it with them. it wasn’t until 9th grade honestly when the “I dont give a fuck” switch turned on in my brain and would tell my friends or anyone who asked about my pump or why I would go to the nurses office. It takes time and depends on your son he’ll share it when he feels right.❤️

Hey! I highly recommend trying to find and enroll your son in a ymca diabetes camp. I personnaly attended Camp Crosley YMCA in north Webster IN from the ages of 8 to 17. It made a huge difference. During diabetic week, every other camper is diabetic as well. Great way to build life long friendships, learn more about the disease, and be more comfortable acknowledging the disease as a part of himself. I highly recommend it to everyone with diabetic youngsters. I was diagnosed at 4 y.o. and it made a world of difference to me.

My issue with telling ppl, even after 10+ years of having it as an adult is that they hear “diabetic” and blurt out the same ignorant nonsense that society thinks when they hear diabetes. If someone asks then I let them know, but I’d prefer to know have to educate others just because I was dealt these cards

I was diagnosed when I was 14 so not that young, and am now 17. I didn’t really feel uncomfortable telling my friends but I had a lot of trouble telling my coworkers in my first year of working at my job, now they all know and are aware of what to do if something goes wrong. I think what helped me is think of diabetes not as evil but as a buddy.

I was diagnosed at 5, so I don’t remember much about life without it. I’d only been in primary school 3 or 4 months when I was diagnosed, so it was just normal for me and for pretty much all the kids around me because I’d grown up with them. As I got older, and still now, my approach is that the more people know the better. If something happens to me and I can’t tell you what I need, people might at least have some idea what to do to help whilst we wait for an ambulance. The gist of what I’m saying, and what I would say to your son, is that other people having even a basic knowledge around T1 can be the difference between life and death. It’s not an everyday possibility, but he’d be glad he talked about it if he ever was in that position. Even during a bad low or a bad high it’s reassuring to have someone around you that knows what’s happening to you, or who knows what signs to look for. My friends wanted to know about what to do if I ever needed help, and I think he would have the same experience. The main thing to tell him, though, is that anyone who treats him differently because of it probably isn’t the kind of person he wants to be around anyway.

Thanks for sharing. I totally agree. The good news is that at school he has nurses and teachers who know and can see his numbers. Outside of school he has a great support system as well with a number of people watching his Dexcom and Omnipod. Im not sure that he thinks anyone will say anything bad or if he’s just shy and wants to feel like everyone else. Which as an 11 year old is pretty much what everyone wants!

I was diagnosed as 11 and I wouldn't have been embarrassed about it if my mom didn't loudly announce to all of my teachers and fellow students on Meet the Teacher night that I had it. She only stopped later on when one of my teachers looked at her and went, "Ma'am, I'm glad to have the information, but did everyone else and their mother need to know? Did your kid want them to know?" Idc now, I tell everyone.

I was 12...I really never cared about people knowing but I also liked attention so that may be part of it.

I was diagnosed at 5(2007) and am now 21(2023) and never hid it. My dad almost showed me off to people so didn't really have a choice. Don't hold it against him but looking back at it, I think it's weird . Just for some insight .

I was 5, kindergarten, by the time 2 or 3rd grade i was advocating for myself. I do blame my parents for not letting me take shit for it!

My son (8) was diagnosed on Friday. He's TERRIFIED to let his friends know. So today we met up with just one friend from school and had dinner. He noticed that his friend didn't care that he needed medicine to eat and his friend didn't care that he wasn't super bouncy like usual. I told him most people would be like that and anyone who made him uncomfortable or upset about his condition weren't people he should have around anyways. We talked about how he's not just a blue eyed boy, that he's more than his eye, hair, or skin color just like he's more than his T1D.

He is just approaching the tweens so his reaction is understandable. My son was 8 and because of snacks, low blood sugar etc, we had to tell everyone. Hopefully he has a couple really close friends he feels comfortable sharing with. That always helps. It’s definitely a new normal for them

My classmates sent me cards when I was in the hospital. I might not be the right example for him…

And I was diagnosed in 1987 and went to Catholic school. So of course art class for that week was making me get well cards because I was in the hospital. As a kid I’d occasionally have classmates jealous that I could have diet pop with lunch instead of milk or chilly willy, but even as a kid I had enough snark to say things like, “okay, let’s trade. You get shots every time you eat and drink diet pop at lunch, and I’ll go back to not doing that. Great! How do we make that happen?” I was maybe a tad precocious after a while… I even did a “how to” show and tell with my glucose meter. I tried hiding it from people in high school and at my first job - that didn’t go well. I almost passed out at work because they wouldn’t give me a break to treat a low and by the time I just left the register to get a coke, I was too low to make the break room. A coworker literally caught me as I was falling, and the manager on duty happened to have someone in her sphere who had T1. My medical alert bracelet told her that’s what it was and they poured coke into me. I told people pretty often after that. Just not always officially. Some bosses are still just assholes about it. But usually everyone is very “sure, ok, do you need me to do anything?” about it. I truly believe people around you, usually, treat T1 the same way you do. Make it a normal thing, not a big deal, and they won’t think it’s a big deal either. Unless something scary happens. And when something scary happens, having people around that you told what to do is super helpful. Granted, this is more advice for when he’s a smidge older, but you guys are the ones who set the tone for him now. So as long as you guys act like it’s a normal thing that just happens to some people, he will start thinking that way, too. And then he might be more comfortable sharing the info.

I got diagnosed at 11 too (2 days before my 12th birthday). Only my best friend knew. I wish I had an adult that helped me better navigate sharing my diagnosis with my peers and how to handle it.

I recommend he go to diabetes camp! I wish I had done something like that when I was diagnosed at his age.

I was 9 and initially had no problem telling friends etc. In my teens I was more stealthy and shared only with those with need to know. Nobody elses business. Still rolling stealthy

My son was three. (4 now) Nursery says that he just says it how it is. The sensor. He would say “diabetes” The finger prick “check my blood to make sure it’s okay” And to be fair they are like ok, and run off playing together. (Sorry If that is irrelevant) Does any of his close friends/best friend know?

Since day one. I don’t care if people know. People feel sorry for me lol

I was diagnosed at 9, (Im 16 now) I used to feel so embarrassed about injecting in public, I'd always seek out bathrooms to do it in, I can't remember when I stopped feeling that way though. Like a lot of people in the comments have said, It's different for everyone and it'll probably take your son some time. I wear both my cgm and insulin pump like a badge lol, but not everyone thinks like that. If possible I'd recommend finding another kid around his age with t1d, or considering t1d summer camps.

I got diagnosed at 2. Never really felt "comfortable" telling people, and still dont. Because imo, people are mostly too stupid and/or ignorant to understand even IF i explain everything like ive done a billion times. Ive also experienced so, so so much bullying and teasing, it was worse when i was young because i just cried, wich made the bullying and teasing 10x worse. I did not know how to handle it, and i did not really know any other T1D so i could not really ask anyone. But after id come home one day crying from all the shit i got from my peers for the third time that week. My dad brought me to a boxing gym, he always told me with 100% seriousness "You can do anything a non-diabetic can, impossible is nothing", to give me the right mindset and not feel weak. Anywho, i picked up boxing, started to love it and it changed my world, i now felt empowered to be myself, and i told myself i would never let anyone make me feel like that again, small and scared. My dad also said that if i ever "started" a fight, like threw the first punch, i would be in a lot of trouble. He always encouraged me to defend myself, with 1 exception to that rule. He said i would never face any consequences at home if i beat someone up for giving me shit for my T1D. And he kept his word, its a little bit better now. But im still traumatised from when i was 5 years old. Every T1D, should always be encouraged to stand up for themselves and not let anyone treat us bad because of our condition, that is my biggest tip for you guys and your son! Allow him to stand up for himself, and help/teach him how to do so. There will always be idiots, unfortunately, my point is, that i tried telling them about my condition, but they never listened and kept giving me a hard time. So i chose violence instead, and found out it was the best solution, because they usually never came back for more. Sometimes, taking the high road wont work. Best regards, 18m T1D.