Unfortunately many girls, and women, who could benefit from treatment for ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) may be going undiagnosed. We diabetics know that dealing with our diabetes plays a large role in our lives. We have to monitor our blood sugar levels, take our medicines at the proper times, eat on a regular schedule and many of us have to deal with injections several times a day. For most of us it may be a nuisance at times, but quickly becomes very routine. When other health problems are added in, it becomes more problematic. For the ADHD person, especially children and teenagers, adding on the burden of all that diabetes entails may seem overwhelming. Imagine being a female diabetic with ADHD and no one is aware of your struggles. That may be the case for many of our young females today.



ADHD specialist Kathleen G. Nadeau, Ph.D. of the Chesapeake ADHD Center in Silver Spring, Maryland believes that ADHD in girls is often missed. As the grandmother of a young teen with ADHD, I cannot imagine him having to deal with the demands of diabetes. When I read that many young girls may be going undiagnosed, my heart went out to the number of them also dealing with diabetes. So I did a little research. Following are some things to look for if you think your daughter could be one of them.

1. ADHD is often missed in females because they often suffer in silence. They are not as rambuctious as boys and are therefore not as likely to be noticed as having a problem by parents and teachers. They are much less likely than boys to have behavior problems in the classroom.

2. Females are more likely to be hypertalkative than hyperactive. They are more likely than boys to be talking, humming, singing, etc at inappropriate times.

3. Females with ADHD often do pretty well in elementary school. It's later when their hormones start to fluctuate that their problems in school may become more evident. About the time their hormones start to fluctuate, they are entering middle school or junior high school where they are faced with greater demands for organizational and time management skills. Thus you may see their grades start to drop.

4. As their hormones start to fluctuate, females are also at the stage where social relationships become very important. If they start having trouble "fitting in" this can be very traumatic for them. They may turn to food for comfort which can wreak havoc for the diabetic.

5. In their early teens, females with ADHD usually become disorganized, messy, forgetful, easily distracted and are very likely to procrastinate.

6. Girls may have more difficulty keeping up with life's daily demands therefore becoming very argumentative and emotional.

All of the above items can, at one time or another describe the typical teenager, making a diagnosis even more difficult. But, if you notice several of these symptoms, do your daughter a favor. Take her to a doctor who specializes in ADHD. Your family doctor or pediatriction may not be trained to look for these symptons. If your child is diabetic and ADHD you owe it to her to get help for her. Both of these diseases require constant medical supervision. Make your child's life easier by helping her deal with her ADHD. Both you and she will be glad you did.