Sibling relationships can be a unique dynamic for any family, especially when one child requires ongoing monitoring and specialized diabetes care. While parents often focus on managing the medical side of the condition, it’s just as important to understand how a child’s diagnosis can shift sibling relationships and the emotional balance within a household. Navigating these changes with sensitivity and support can help every child feel understood and valued, laying the foundation for healthier family dynamics and stronger sibling bonds. Here, we'll provide tips to help manage the dynamics when one child has diabetes, and one does not.
In this article, you’ll learn:
- How a child’s diabetes diagnosis can affect sibling relationships, including feelings of jealousy, confusion, or anxiety.
- Why siblings may react differently depending on their age and understanding of diabetes.
- The positive ways diabetes can bring siblings closer, including increased empathy, teamwork, and resilience.
- How to help siblings understand diabetes with age-appropriate explanations, questions, and reassurance.
- Why it’s important to clarify boundaries so siblings don’t feel responsible for diabetes care.
- Practical strategies to build healthy sibling relationships, like inclusive routines, consistent rules, and one-on-one time with each child.
- Tips for encouraging empathy without pressure, celebrating each child equally, and keeping communication open.
- How parents can strengthen overall family bonds and when to seek support from mental health professionals.
How Diabetes Impacts Sibling Relationships
There are several stories about how having a sibling with type 1 diabetes affects a child, and this can manifest in various ways based on their age. Suppose a brother or sister is younger than the child diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. They may not fully understand what's going on and demonstrate feelings of jealousy due to the nature of diabetes care and management. If they're older, they may hold a degree of resentment due to the change of dynamic that the diagnosis brought within the family. Regardless of the situation, it can bring about an imbalance and may create a heavy emotional load for siblings, while making parents feel guilty and anxious. Some of the most notable ways that diabetes can impact sibling relationships include:
- Feelings of jealousy or being "left out." Children may notice that their siblings get more energy or worry from parents, which can sometimes make them feel overlooked.
- Increased anxiety or fear. Siblings are first-hand witnesses to low or high blood sugar emergencies, which can make them feel anxious or fearful if they don't fully understand what's going on.
- Confusion about rules or boundaries. When one child has specific eating schedules or activity limitations, the sibling without diabetes may struggle to understand why rules feel different. This can sometimes lead to frustration or resentment, which is why making changes that include the whole family is ideal.
Some children may also feel a personal responsibility to try to limit the amount of stress they contribute to the family environment, causing them to hold in their own needs or emotions. This can take a toll on children, especially if it's ongoing throughout their childhood.
With that being said, the relationship doesn't have to be negative. In fact, in several studies, children with diabetes and their siblings don't seem to report impaired relationships. Instead, the circumstances have allowed everyone in the family to grow closer and develop resilience. Siblings often develop a stronger sense of compassion and responsibility, especially if they're involved in pediatric diabetes care.
Finally, as both children grow and learn to navigate challenges together, the shared experience of managing diabetes in the family, as a team, can deepen sibling connections.
Helping Siblings Understand Diabetes
Although it can be difficult to explain to a child, depending on their age, the more they know about their sibling's condition, the less likely they are to feel negative emotions about it. When kids don't know what's happening or why their sibling may need some extra attention, they often fill in gaps with their own assumptions. Therefore, try your best to explain without overwhelming them. Some tips for doing this include:
- Start with the basics: Explain basic facts about what diabetes is, why the body needs insulin, and how tools like pumps or CGMs help keep their sibling safe. Young children don’t need detailed medical lessons, just a simple sense of what’s happening and why.
- Encourage questions: Children are curious; it's a normal part of development. Invite them to ask anything, even if it feels small. Answering their questions helps replace worry with confidence.
- Use age-appropriate teaching tools: Younger children often learn best through storybooks, cartoons, or simple analogies that make diabetes feel less intimidating. Older siblings can handle more specifics, like recognizing signs of low blood sugar or understanding why routines matter.
- Clarify what’s helpful, and what responsibility is not theirs: Let siblings know how they can be supportive (being patient, understanding meal or schedule changes) without making them feel responsible for their brother or sister’s diabetes care. This prevents unnecessary pressure while still encouraging empathy.
- Normalize their feelings: Understanding diabetes doesn’t mean siblings won’t still feel jealous, scared, or frustrated at times. Affirming those emotions helps them feel seen and strengthens family communication over time.
If you're struggling to help your child without diabetes, consider talking to your doctor. Several mental health professionals specialize in these kinds of things, and it's okay to ask for help.
How to Build Positive Sibling Relationships
In addition to helping children understand their siblings' condition, try to take an active role in facilitating positive sibling relationships. With intention support and honest communications, many chronic conditions actually bring siblings closer. While it might not happen overnight, recognizing and addressing each of your child's unique needs and helping them love and accept each other will go a long way. For example:
Create Inclusive Family Routines
Aim for routines that allow every child to feel included, not limited. This might mean planning meals the whole family can enjoy, choosing activities that don’t revolve around food, or adjusting outings so the child with diabetes doesn’t feel like the reason plans are changing. When siblings see that the family adapts together, it reduces the feeling that one child’s condition controls everyone’s life.
Maintain Consistent Rules Whenever Possible
While diabetes may require flexibility in certain areas, maintaining consistent expectations for each child (i.e., bedtimes and screen time) helps prevent feelings of unfairness. Siblings are quick to notice perceived “special treatment,” so explaining why exceptions are made and keeping rules equal whenever possible creates a sense of balance.
Protect One-on-One Time With Each Child
Children thrive when they feel seen. Scheduling intentional one-on-one time with each child helps minimize jealousy and reinforces that every child is important. It doesn’t have to be elaborate; small traditions like a shared hobby or reading together can make a big difference in how connected and valued siblings feel.
Encourage Empathy Without Pressure
Help siblings understand the challenges their brother or sister faces, but make it clear that they are not responsible for managing diabetes care. Empathy grows through awareness and emotional connection, not obligation. When siblings are allowed to care without feeling pressured to “take charge,” they develop healthier, more supportive relationships.
Celebrate Strengths and Efforts Equally
The child with diabetes may receive more recognition for medical milestones or daily management tasks, which can unintentionally overshadow the accomplishments of the other child. Make a point to celebrate both children’s strengths and achievements, as this can make them feel special and seen in their own ways.
Build Shared Responsibility, Not Burden
If siblings want to help, give them small, meaningful ways to be supportive, like grabbing a low snack or helping choose family-friendly activities. Keep these contributions optional and age-appropriate, as this can help foster teamwork and connection without adding pressure or feelings of resentment to the mix.
Keep Communication Open and Judgment-Free
Sometimes, it can be difficult for children to say what's on their mind. Encourage everyone in the family to talk openly about their feelings, whether they feel jealous, confused, protective, or proud. Let them know all emotions are valid, and try to utilize regular check-ins throughout the week to help prevent misunderstandings and strengthen trust between siblings and parents alike.
Praise All Children Equally
Finally, make it a habit to recognize each child’s efforts, even if they're small. When praise is shared equally and consistently, children feel more secure in their role within the family. This balance helps maintain harmony and reinforces positive sibling connections, even during stressful or hectic times.
Strengthening Family Bonds Through Understanding and Support
Sibling dynamics can change dramatically when one child is diagnosed with diabetes, but that doesn't mean that close relationships can't still be nurtured. As a parent, it's essential to keep an eye out for any signs of withdrawal or resentment early on, as this can help you take action to ensure all family members are feeling cared for and emotionally supported. If you're unsure as to how to address stress between siblings, family counseling is a great resource. Pediatric mental health professionals can also help provide each child with the tools they need to process their emotions in a healthy, age-appropriate way.
For help managing the day-to-day challenges of pediatric diabetes care, partner with Byram Healthcare. Byram offers reliable home delivery of diabetes products and dedicated resources that make managing your child’s care easier for the entire family. To learn more, contact Byram’s diabetes helpline: 1-877-902-9726, ext. 43397, today.
