Sharing Care with Family

You cannot do this alone for years, and in most Indian households you will not have to — there are usually willing hands. What matters is training them properly rather than supervising everything yourself forever.

Start with one or two people rather than everybody. A grandmother who lives with you, or your partner, learning it thoroughly is worth more than six relatives who half know it.

Write the essentials down and stick them up. Spoken instructions get remembered wrongly, especially by someone anxious.

• The medicine, the exact dose, and the time — never adjusted by anyone except on your doctor's instruction.
• What a low looks like in your baby, and exactly what to give and how much.
• That the baby must never be left with someone who has not been shown these things.
• Your number, and when to call an ambulance rather than call you.

Be specific about the non-negotiables, because these are where well-meaning help goes wrong. No sweets or sugar given as a treat outside the plan. No doses skipped because the baby seems fine. No home remedies, and nothing added to feeds. And nothing changed without telling you.

Expect some resistance. Older relatives may believe a baby cannot have diabetes, may suggest it will pass, or may push traditional remedies. Getting your doctor to explain it directly to them usually works better than repeating it yourself.

Then let people help. The parents who last are the ones who accepted assistance early.