"Dad, am I going to get diabetes?"

This was the part I was dreading. I knew this question was going to come up but how do I respond? Do I tell her about my fears. How I do not know how I could live with myself if you had this terrible disease? Do I mention the fear she may have to live with for the rest of her life? Should I mention how she may not but her future kids could get it? How should I respond?

I know how I want to respond. I want to say that there is no way she will ever have diabetes and that she need not worry her little head over something that will never be an issue. But I cannot do that. I have to tell her some form of truth. I am not that Dad that makes up stories to make my children think that the world is a perfect place. I must address this honestly and delicately.

"Well, anyone could get diabetes honey. I mean, my mom and dad did not have diabetes but I got it." I was pretty sure that would not be good enough for her.

"I know but what is the chance that I will get it? Is it more becuase you have it?" She sounded 10 years older then she is.

"I read or heard somewhere that kids of dad's with type 1 have a 7% chance of getting themselves."

"Can you put that into perspective?" I was floored that she already was using a word I just taught her.

"Let's see. If you have 99 brothers and sisters, then 7 of them would probably have diabetes. It could be more or could be less but that would be the typical outcome."

"We would have to a big old house!" The 9-year-old surfaced for a moment.

"The thing to remember is that you know a lot about diabetes. You and your brother. You guys have learned a lot becuase of dealing with my diabetes. So if you ever did get diabetes then it would not be so scary since you know so much huh?" I wait for a reply as I hear the gears turning in her head.

"Yeah dad that's true. I always talk to [the mom of her friend who has diabetes] about diabetes and how much insulin she takes. She should get [the friend] an insulin pump like yours. I told her all about that." She sounds so proud of her knowledge which is such a great thing to hear. I wish it was a better subject but I guess knowing another person in this world who is not caught up in diabetic stereotypes is a very good thing.

Are you a parent with diabetes? Do you talk to your kids about your disease? If so, how much?

I am sure that I am not the only person with diabetes who is worried about how much to tell their kids. I would love to hear your thoughts.