Diabetes, Type 1: Tips on Caring for Your Child

Your child with type 1 diabetes needs to have insulin shots every day. This can be scary for adults, not to mention for a child. If your child is very young, you will need to give these shots. Older children can learn to do it themselves.

Your child also will need to have his or her blood sugar checked at different times during the day. This is an important part of your child's care and will make insulin use safer and more effective.

Dealing with insulin shots and the other parts of treatment may take some extra effort from both you and your child. Some of the tips below may help.

Food

Help your child watch closely what he or she eats. Many adults with diabetes have trouble with this, and it can be even harder for a child. It helps if you involve the whole family. If the family eats a low-fat diet with lots of vegetables and less carbohydrates, it will be easier for your child. Although the lure of junk foods remains, you can balance that with healthy foods at home. Above all, your child needs to see how food affects blood sugar.

Many children eat extra foods without telling their parents or other adults. This can lead to high blood sugar and hospital visits. Make it clear to your child that eating extra food means that he or she will need extra insulin. Your child should always tell an adult when he or she eats something that is not on the meal plan for the day.

It helps to teach your child the idea of balance. If your child wants to eat a food not on the meal plan for the day, then you need to adjust the insulin dose to reflect this change.

School

School can also be a challenge for a child with type 1 diabetes. Because of the need to take insulin shots throughout the day and the need to eat on a regular schedule, children with type 1 diabetes stand out from their peers. Encourage your child to explain diabetes to friends and show them how the equipment works. Most children are just curious and are eager to learn.

You should also meet with your child's teachers, school nurse, and school administrators to discuss diabetes care at school. The Americans With Disabilities Act covers children with diabetes, so your child's school must help you with treatment. Make sure that the school has on hand the right supplies and insulin for your child.

Be sure to meet with your child's gym teacher to discuss how exercise affects your child's blood sugar. The gym teacher may not know the signs of sudden high or low blood sugar, so you will need to explain what symptoms your child may have and how to deal with them. Encourage your child to play sports and be physically active. Exercise is good for your child and will

help his or her diabetes treatment. But realize that physical activity will now take more planning than before. Your diabetes team can help you adjust your child's treatment plan for physical activity.

Sick days

When your child is sick, his or her blood sugar can go up. This can be dangerous. Talk to your child's doctor about how to care for diabetes on sick days.

Here are some guidelines:

  • Follow your child's normal insulin schedule even if your child is vomiting or having trouble eating or drinking. Call the doctor if your child cannot keep down medicine or fluids.
  • Keep a normal eating schedule, and give extra fluids, like water, broth, and fruit juice.
  • Check blood sugar at least every 3 to 4 hours or more often if it is rising fast.
  • Do a test for ketones, especially if your child's blood sugar is high.
  • Check your child's temperature, breathing rate, pulse, and weight often (at least one time a day) if blood sugar is more than his or her target range. Call the doctor if your child loses weight and his or her temperature, breathing rate, and pulse go up.
  • Do not give any over-the-counter medicines without talking to your doctor first.
  • Call your doctor if your child cannot keep down medicine, fluids, or food.

Independence

As your child grows, encourage him or her to take more control over the treatment. As a parent, you may want to be there every time your child gets an insulin shot. But it is important that you let your child become more independent.

There are many summer camps for children with diabetes. These settings can help children learn about their disease and how to manage it.

They can also meet other children with type 1 diabetes. Arm your child with the right information about diabetes.

This will help your child understand the illness and how to manage it.

Support for you

Never feel like your family is alone in dealing with your child's diabetes. Ask your diabetes team coordinator for help in finding:

  • Local support groups.
  • Resources on the Internet.
  • Publications from the American Diabetes Association and other groups.

Along with giving you emotional support, these groups can also direct you to information you need to face the challenges ahead.