We’re educators, problem solvers, and cheerleaders
I think that we play a non-traditional role in taking care of diabetes, in the sense that we are educators, problem solvers, and cheerleaders. I think most important of all is that we try not to be judgmental and try to be empathetic and supportive and to recognize that our patients are carrying a heavy burden. Our role is to try to support them and to boost self esteem, to encourage them when they are feeling down rather than to beat up on them and make them feel worse. I think that those are some of the things that I feel are important in taking care of diabetes.
Joseph Wolfsdorf, MD, Associate Chief, Division of Endocrinology
You can do it
I think the very, very simple message is: You can do it. While it’s devastating and difficult to learn and there are a lot of emotions to deal with from parents feeling guilty and kids feeling angry, diabetes is something that we know an awful lot about in terms of treatment and management. Knowledge is power, and the more you know, the better it will be. There’s a lot of support in the community, at the hospital, and on the internet because this illness is so well known. The unfortunate thing is that we don’t have a cure just yet. We don’t have a magic pill that’s going to erase diabetes, but there is hope and the possibility of living a very normal life and having a full and healthy childhood and adult life is very, very attainable.
Jennifer Rein, LICSW, Licensed Social Worker