You are not the only person who lives with diabetes in your family. Other family members may not have the condition in their bodies, but they often experience many aspects of the condition with you and play a key role in your management and support system.

Diabetes management is often called a family journey because the condition requires constant, daily attention and impacts the entire household, not just the individual who’s been diagnosed with it.

This can involve having a front-row seat to different diabetes symptoms, including high and low blood sugar effects. Family members can help shape your management and mental health related to diabetes, including monitoring blood sugars, the technology or medications you use, and the food and exercise habits that become part of your daily life with diabetes.

While their pancreas may still function, family members and household members are directly affected by this condition in some of the same ways as you.

This is how you can include family members in your diabetes management journey.

Family members and those in your household are key parts of your life, with and without diabetes.

Research shows a positive and significant relationship between active family and social support, which can lead to better clinical outcomes, such as lower A1C levels.

When family members are educated about the condition, they are better equipped to recognize signs of blood sugar highs and lows and can act quickly in an emergency, contributing to safety.

  • Shared lifestyle changes: Diabetes management often requires lifestyle changes after diagnosis. How this affects everyone can depend on many factors, including the type of diabetes and when you’re diagnosed. Those diagnosed with type 1 as children may not have as much to adjust to later into adulthood, compared to those who may be diagnosed with any type of diabetes as an adult and require more substantial lifestyle changes.
    • What does this mean? It might include following a specific meal plan, changing what you eat and learning portion sizes and carb counting, regular physical activity, blood sugar management, supply orders and tracking, and mental health considerations from how you communicate about diabetes and your health. When the family adopts these healthy habits together, it can help the person with diabetes to better manage their own health and even promote a healthier environment for all.
  • Caring for others: This may be especially important for children and older adults with diabetes, both of whom may need help managing their condition and taking care of themselves. The family environment plays a big role in diabetes management for children and teenagers.
    • What this means? Parents are the primary caregivers for younger children and teenagers, and their responsibilities may include managing insulin injections or device use, blood sugar testing, ordering supplies and medications, and coordinating care at school. Older adults may also find family members or close friends helping manage these aspects.
  • Physical help: People with diabetes, especially those on insulin, may need actual physical help from those they live with.
    • What this means? This can mean others will want to learn about high and low blood sugars and the symptoms they might notice, and how insulin and fast-acting emergency glucagon may work in case of a severe hypoglycemia. At other times, it may mean helping with driving or accompanying the person with diabetes to doctors’ appointments or picking up needed prescriptions from the pharmacy.
  • Background help: Anyone with diabetes may do everything they can to manage their own health and diabetes management plan, but they may also need help from those around them with reminders or care actions.
    • What this means? Family members may provide practical help, such as grocery shopping, preparing meals, reminding about medication schedules, and attending medical appointments, to ensure information is not missed.
  • Shared stress and fear: Family members often experience their own stress, anxiety, and fear related to the possibility of complications (e.g., hypoglycemia or long-term health issues) and the uncertainty of emergencies.
  • Addressing diabetes distress and burnout: Managing a chronic illness 24/7 can be emotionally draining, leading to feelings of frustration, isolation, anxiety, or diabetes distress or burnout. Family support can provide encouragement and validation, helping that person with diabetes stay motivated.
  • Creating a supportive environment: A family that practices open communication, empathy, and non-judgmental support helps the individual feel understood and less burdened, which is linked to better diabetes management and overall well-being.

In essence, diabetes care is a continuous commitment that affects the daily routines, emotional stability, and health choices of everyone in the household, making their involvement a cornerstone of successful long-term management.

Diabetes affects the entire family and those you live with. This can include everything from meal plans to blood sugar management, exercise routines, and mental health considerations.

Consult your healthcare team to determine how best to involve the entire family in a diabetes management plan.

Hungry for more on diabetes?

Explore this Healthline guide to diabetes and what this condition may mean for you, family members, and others in your life.