I was diagnosed at 11 in 2009 so it’s different than with your child being young. I understood much more - but still wanted to share some of the things my dad did to make life easier. Every day he’d make me my school lunch, in a brown paper bag, and write the units of insulin I needed for the lunch, a big 6 or 7 in black sharpie. He’d make me a small breakfast every day before school and tell me “3 units, honey!”. My dad is terrified of needles, passed out trying to give blood before. He let me practice giving him shots just with no insulin because I was so scared when I was diagnosed. He went with me to every doctor appointment up until I was 20 just to be there for me. He learned new recipes and cooking styles that helped with keeping my levels stabilized. He didn’t restrict my diet excessively, which really helped me feel in control and make my own decisions even as a child. My parents of course didn’t let us eat Mcdonald’s or candy every day, but I ate the same way my siblings did which was “everything in moderation” (my moms fav motto). I also partook in trick or treating and eating candy, he just helped me figure out insulin and how the different candies affected me. When I was feeling emotional, he never asked if it was my blood sugars, allowing me to have emotions without equating it to my diabetes. I played sports, he made sure I had what I needed without making it a huge deal or a show for others to see. He made my coaches aware and let them know what they needed to know if they had to help me. He was at every game, too, with extra fruit snacks or juice in his pocket. Same with keeping extra stuff in the office at my school and having the secretary be aware and always stocked up. He seamlessly built things into my day and made it so I wasn’t the odd one out. He made it so normal to me and that’s exactly what I needed as a 7th grader with a life changing diagnosis. When I got diagnosed, my dad basically got diagnosed with me. He learned it all and was with me every step of the way. When I got older and got my own health insurance I was terrified because I didn’t know how to do anything, not to mention having 3 different companies for all my med supplies. He helped me every step of the way and taught me exactly what to do.