June 19, 2000
Behavior
Question from Columbus, Ohio, USA:
My 10 year old daughter was diagnosed at age 4 with Type 1 diabetes. Ever since she was diagnosed, she has become very bitter, angry, violent, and depressed. She has seen several counselors and she has been able to manipulate her way past help. Any suggestions?
Answer:
No child should suffer from being angry, violent, bitter and depressed for six years. The failure of previous counseling may be due, in part, to these counselors working with your daughter individually, and not with you all as a family. Talk with the members of your diabetes team to see if they recommend someone who can work with your family. If they are unable to recommend anyone, call the psychiatry department at your local children’s hospital and ask if they have any faculty that specialize in working with families who have a child with a chronic illness.
JWB
