Dating, Sex & Pregnancy

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Dating

Before your teen starts dating, talk with her about ways to handle her diabetes while on a date. She may be apprehensive about telling a possible romantic interest about her diabetes. Encourage her to think through the implications of telling versus not telling. You could use some of the following questions.

• Will it be easier to stick to your meal plan if your date knows about your diabetes?

• Will your date wonder why you won’t share a dessert after dinner (or why you need a snack at a particular time)?

• What happens if you get low while with your date?

• How long will you be with your date? Will you have to do a bg check or take a shot while you’re out?

In many cases, the best option is to tell a date about diabetes ahead of time. Your teen can keep the explanation short and to the point, if she wishes. Then she won’t have to worry about talking about diabetes during her evening out.

Sex & Pregnancy

Teens with diabetes face the same choices about sex as teens without diabetes. But having diabetes adds an extra dimension to the possible consequences of being sexually active. It’s important to talk to your teen openly and honestly about sex. Try to be open to the conversation, and, while being very clear about your own values, give as much unbiased information as possible. Avoid being “preachy.”

Let your teen know that the safest choice is abstinence. Prepare her to combat any peer pressure she may encounter if she makes this choice. Also, mention (particularly to a younger teen) the option of delaying sex until she’s older.

Your teen must also know how to minimize the risks of sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancy, in the event that she chooses to have sex. Tell her about the importance of using condoms to reduce the risk of AIDS and other diseases. You may also wish to discuss other forms of contraception. Another option is for her to talk confidentially with her doctor about contraception and sexuality.

Although this is a difficult discussion to have with any teen, it is particularly important if you have a daughter with diabetes.

Emphasize that women with diabetes can become pregnant just as easily as women without diabetes. (By the same token, diabetes does not affect male fertility.) However, if a woman has high blood glucose levels, it can cause birth defects in her unborn baby. So it’s important for women with diabetes (of any age) to plan their pregnancies carefully. They must make sure that their blood glucose levels are well managed from the very beginning of their pregnancy. This is another important reason for women with diabetes who are not planning to get pregnant to use contraception faithfully. If your daughter doesn’t choose abstinence, be ready to discuss contraception or make an appointment for her to talk to her gynecologist.