Living with Type 1 Diabetes can have an impact on your relationships with family, friends or romantic partners.

Managing type 1 diabetes as a family, friends and romantic partners can help you feel less alone. It can bring you much closer and strengthen the bonds you already share.

It’s important to have regular and open communication in any relationship so that you can support one another.

Being aware of the effects of diabetes on relationships and the common issues that can come up will help you manage difficult moments in your relationships better.

1. Effects of Diabetes on Family Relationships

Sibling rivalry

• How does diabetes affect relationships, particularly among siblings? Having type 1 diabetes can mean that you get more attention from your parents due to, hospital visits and care. Your siblings could feel left out or unhappy because of this.

• It can feel unfair when family members might be strict with you, like limiting what you eat and other things you must do to keep up good type 1 diabetes management. Try to remember that this comes from a place of love and that they want you to stay healthy and happy.

• Involve your siblings with your management of your type 1 diabetes and invite them to the hospital with you to make it more fun! This can help mitigate the effects of diabetes on family relationships.

• Share HelloType1 website and Facebook page with them! So that they can understand type 1 diabetes better and the impact it has on you.

Separated parents

• Having parents that are separated can be difficult to navigate for anyone. It can be difficult to manage practically and emotionally.

• You need to make sure that you have all your medication/diabetes management tools with you. Bring them with you to both homes. Your parents should help with this.

• Keep track of your blood glucose monitoring and insulin doses in your diary so that both your parents have the correct information.

Extended family

• When you are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes , it’s natural for your grandparents, aunts, and uncles, etc to be upset and worried too! This can help reduce the negative effects of diabetes on family relationships.

• Some extended family members might be confused as to what type 1 diabetes is and what this means especially if they come from a different generation/culture.

• Share HelloType1 website and Facebook page with them! Then they can read or listen to learn about what type 1 diabetes is and what it means for you.

• Sometimes it can feel tiring having to educate everyone so you can use HelloType1 to help with that!

2. Effects of Diabetes on Other Relationships

Romantic Relationships

• Having a medical condition like type 1 diabetes does not mean you cannot date or have romantic relationships.

• Be honest with your partner about your condition, their reaction can inform you on if they are right for you.

• Find a partner who is open to learning about type 1 diabetes and can be understanding. They can support type 1 diabetes management. This is one way of managing the effects of diabetes on relationships.

• Invite them along to your hospital appointments and share HelloType1 website and Facebook page to involve them in your type 1 diabetes management.

• If you want to, you can get married and start a family just like everyone else!

Friends

• Having type 1 diabetes does not mean that you can’t have friends and get involved in fun social events and activities!

• Being honest with friends is important and their reaction to you having type 1 diabetes will tell you whether they will be a good friend to have.

• Tell your close friends about type 1 diabetes management, they can help you and look out for you! They should be understanding and supportive.

• Share HelloType1 website and Facebook page to educate and involve them in your type 1 diabetes management.

• Despite having Type 1 Diabetes, you still can have healthy, happy and loving relationships with your family, friends and romantic partners.

• Remember to ask for help and accept support from your family, friends, partner and medical teams. It can lessen the stress and share the load. You are not alone."