Question

My teenage son is a diabetic. I am very concerned as his friends want him to go out with them and they all drink alcohol. How can I stop him from socializing with these friends?

Answer

We can understand your concern for your son, but to stop him socializing with his friends is not the answer to your dilemma. All teens face challenges and have to make decisions about dating, driving, and alcohol, among other things. Teens with diabetes face the same choices as their friends. But having diabetes complicates the choices they have to make. The turbulent teen years can be difficult times for both parents and adolescents. Rites of passage like puberty, dating, driving, parties, and college allow a teen to develop his/her own sense of self and decision-making skills. When you throw a chronic, potentially life-threatening disease like diabetes into the equation, this move towards independence can be particularly scary for parents and caregivers, as well as the teenager involved.
 

Diabetes may seem to present a parental paradox. How do you allow your child to take responsibility for her own diabetes care and experience the consequences of his/her decisions-good or bad-when en the wrong choices could have serious repercussions for his/her health? The answer is to provide him/her with the skill sets and tools they need to make good diabetes management choices. Discuss drinking. Make sure your teenager knows what kind of impact drinking alcohol has on their diabetes control. Let them know that while you don't condone the behavior, you want them to take the proper precautions should they decide to drink.
 

We hope our advice and the information provided in the links below may help your son cope responsibly with his diabetes and socializing with his friends, and also help you to understand the issues better, providing balance and peace of mind, whist allowing you to be a valuable guide and support for your son.
 

Related Links
Can I Still Drink Alcohol?
How to Manage Alcohol and Diabetes
Teens and Diabetes
Tips for Teens