Transition Guide for Diabetic Adolescents: From Pediatric to Adult Diabetes Care Providers

Transitioning from pediatric to adult diabetes care providers can be very stressful and anxiety-inducing for many teens with a chronic illness like diabetes. However, this transition process is necessary in order for these emerging adults to acquire the important healthcare and attention that are compatible and beneficial for their age and current condition. Having the right healthcare professionals to assist and take care of them is vital in their transition process.

As these teens and young adults grow in age, so does their need to become more independent and take more responsibility for managing their healthcare requirements. In order to alleviate the stress and tension that come with a change in their diabetes care provider, they should be given the knowledge of what the transition entails, what the necessary measures are, and why this process is important.

For parents, relatives, and even the teens themselves, it is helpful to know a thing or two about diabetes and what happens to young diabetics during their adolescent years.

Diabetes is a medical condition where there is essentially too much blood sugar in the body. Although it may sound simple, this disorder should be taken seriously, especially since it has a high rate of death.

A great deal of discipline and hard work is required for the patient to live a healthy life with this disease. During the adolescent stage, diabetes can be quite challenging and difficult in comparison to later stages of life. The transition phase is an important step that adolescents have to go through, and it requires early preparation on the part of the patient, their families, and their healthcare provider. It is also a good idea for parents to encourage as well as supervise their children to provide full support while they are on their journey towards self-management.

The transition will require a group effort from the family, the pediatric staff, and all who are involved in the teen’s healthcare services. There are certain hospitals that have a special section where young diabetics share the same staff with other adults. This can be quite effective in slowly and smoothly transitioning them to adult healthcare.

Those who are involved in this transition phase should have plenty of patience, and they should understand that it takes time for the patient to adjust to the new changes, so they should allow the patient to move at their own pace without any pushing. They should be able to build rapport so as to boost their confidence, and, to make things a bit easier, those who are involved in the transition should try to educate the adolescent about the symptoms of their medical condition, the type of diabetes, what it means, and the available treatment methods, as well as why they are necessary. The whole team should come together to discuss plans and goals to avoid any conflict of interest among the individuals involved in the process.

Let the new healthcare provider introduce themselves as well as the idea of transitioning to the patient at least a year before it occurs. Allow the adolescent to be more independent in terms of scheduling their own appointments, routinely checking their blood sugar levels, refilling prescriptions, and so on. Parents should talk to them about the ill effects of smoking and alcohol, too, and how it relates to their condition. Provide them with the names and numbers of agencies where they can ask for help in the future. Discuss things such as meal planning, monitoring blood glucose levels, medical care, and exercising. Adolescents should always be encouraged to ask for help so they do not feel alone during this transitional process.