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Making clinic visits easier for your autistic child

A diabetes clinic or hospital can be really overwhelming for autistic children. Bright lights, noise, lots of people and blood tests can leave many children and young people anxious about their regular appointments.
Content last reviewed and updated: 30.01.2025

Nurse smiling at child in clinic setting

Use methods from other environments

Considering how your child reacts in other environments such as school, and using the same methods to reduce their anxiety can be useful. For example, using noise cancelling headphones and sensory comforts such as a favourite toy. Social stories can also be a useful way of framing situations, events or activities for autistic people

Tell your Diabetes Healthcare Team

It’s important to tell your child’s Diabetes Healthcare Team that your child is autistic. Autism is becoming more widely understood so it is very likely that the team will have had training about how to talk to and convey information to autistic children and young people. Your child’s clinic may be able to make sure that your child sees the same healthcare professionals each time.

There are forms you can complete to let your child’s Diabetes Healthcare Team know what their sensory and communications needs are. You can use the communications profile on the Autism Wales website (it’s free but you will need to register) or fill out a health passport.

How can I help my child interact with healthcare professionals?

Talking to healthcare professionals at their appointments can be challenging for autistic children (and adults). Autistic children may develop ‘stock responses’ to questions around type 1 management based on how they think they are ‘supposed’ to behave. Parents can feel frustrated at this as they may see that their child is struggling with something specific and yet they are not communicating this in clinic.

Anxiety can lower how well an autistic person is able to process verbal information. As anxiety gets higher, their ability to process verbal information gets lower. Understanding things visually is easier for autistic people than understanding things through listening. Where possible, write things down and use lists/bullet points. You can also use diagrams, visual images and social stories.

Find out more about visual supports for autistic people.

Some hospitals are now implementing ‘sensory rooms’ for autistic children where appointments can be held in a low stimulation environment. Some clinics also have nurses who can visit you at home to do basic medical checks. Check with your clinic or hospital to see what is available.

How can I prepare for my child’s clinic visit?

Preparing for a visit to a clinic or hospital can help make your child less anxious. Ask your child what they would like to ask and know about before their appointment. This information can be emailed to their Diabetes Healthcare Team in advance.

Your child may prefer to know about their appointment a long time in advance or nearer the time. Some autistic people find that knowing about an event far in advance can cause them anxiety, whereas other autistic people like the extra time to prepare. Make sure you let them know before the day itself as most autistic children don’t like surprises or sudden change.

Having a dedicated routine, such as going to a favourite place afterwards, can both ease anxiety and associate going to appointments with events they like. You can also practice asking questions to reduce anxiety. If you have a virtual appointment, you can record them so you and your child can watch them afterwards if your child is overstimulated during the appointment unable to process the information given.

Making an autism-friendly environment

Making the places your child spends time in as autism friendly as possible can be useful to help type 1 management. For example, making sure that your child is familiar with everyone involved in managing their type 1 at school (including some contingency staff if possible) can help. At home, having reliable routines, dedicated spaces for kit and sensory areas to reduce overstimulation can help your child calm quicker from overwhelm and feel more secure.

This content was created by Dr Jacq Allan, Psychologist: Children’s Diabetes Team. It has been reviewed by the National Autistic Society.

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