Twelve tips for diabetes
management in children
Diabetes presents
a serious challenge for many parents, as 1 out of every 400-600 children
or adolescents will be diagnosed with diabetes(1).
It can also prove to
be a rewarding experience for parents, as they learn how to
overcome the challenges presented by this disease.
Diabetes 1, juvenile
diabetes or insulin dependent diabetes occurs when a child or young
adolescent's body cannot produce insulin. At times, the body's immune
system destroys beta cells which produce insulin in the pancreas(2).
Children with this type
must be given insulin every day.
Diabetes 2 occurs when there
is insufficient insulin created by the pancreas or it cannot be used by
the body. This can occur at any age. The majority of children with type 2
diabetes are overweight(3)
This diabetic child does not
require insulin, but may need to be treated with other medication for
diabetes.
Symptoms:
Diabetic children
demonstrate the following symptoms: frequent urination, excessive
thirst, extreme hunger, unusual weight loss, increased fatigue, irritability
and blurry vision (4).
Twelve Treatment Tips:
Blood sugars should be tested
and recorded approximately 1-3 times per day. Parents should encourage
their diabetic child to participate in this, as soon as possible,
depending upon his or her age. Urine may also be tested for glucose levels.
Insulin dosage
requirements depend upon the diabetic child's blood sugar levels. These
should be monitored by the parents, in conjunction with their diabetic child
and checked by a physician on a regular basis.
Insulin can be given with an
insulin pump, pen or by injection. It is important that parents learn the
basic techniques of injecting insulin, so they can teach their diabetic child
how to manage his or her diabetes.
Careful meal planning,
with the right kind and correct amount of healthy food, will help to
control and reduce blood sugar levels. Parents should encourage their diabetic
child to help plan his or her meals.
Increasing physical activity
will help to reduce a diabetic child's blood sugar levels and prevent possible
complications that may occur. Parents should encourage a diabetic child to
be active doing things that he or she likes to do. Being active, as a parent,
encourages a diabetic child to be active also.
Other medications may
be needed when a diabetic child has an illness or infection, as blood
sugar levels can rise quickly. Contact a physician immediately, in
case of a suspected illness or infection.
Parents should teach their
diabetic child about diabetes, how to monitor blood sugar levels and
how to give his or her own insulin, as this will help to reduce
the fear of diabetes.
A hard candy or glass of orange
juice, with one teaspoon of sugar, may be given to a diabetic child with a
very low blood sugar, evidenced by shakiness, trembling or profuse sweating.
Parents should teach their
diabetic child to keep accurate records of his or her blood sugar
levels, the amount and type of insulin taken, symptoms, doctor's visits and
other concerns or questions.
When traveling, parents should
make certain that caregivers are aware that their child has diabetes.
They should be instructed regarding the child's care. Parents should
try to maintain a normal schedule for their diabetic child when travelling, as much as possible.
Travelling with light snacks
like cheese and crackers, or popcorn, in case meals are not on time, is a
good idea. Carrying a kit that contains the basics like a glucose monitor, test
strips, needles, alcohol swabs, insulin and a record book. is important.
Parents can obtain current
information about diabetes from magazines or books in libraries and
bookstore or on the Internet. It is important to stay up to
date with respect to ongoing diabetes research. There may also be support
groups and summer camps for diabetic children.
(1) http://www.accu-chek.com/us/rewrite/content/en_US/3.7.1:10/article/ACCM_general_article_3231.htm
(2) (Ibid.)
(4) Ibid.
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