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ChildrenWith
Diabetes Diabetes Support Site
Website http://diabetessupportsite.com
Diabetes can seem to be an
overwhelming disease because it
impacts so many areas of your
daily life. It’s important to have
support from family, friends and
from other people with diabetes.
You don’t have to face diabetes
alone. Join a support group like
this website to connect with people
who truly understand, motivate,
and encourage you!
Since the 1980s, the numberof children being diagnosedwith type 1 diabetes has
gradually crept up at a rate ofabout 3 to 5 percent per year.
That may not sound likemuch, but it’s startling whenyou consider that twice as
many children are diagnosedwith type 1 diabetes today
than were diagnosed 20 to 25years ago. Although the
condition can develop at anyage, we’re seeing it atyounger ages than ever
before and more toddlers andpreschoolers are being
diagnosed.
Children WithDiabetes
Misconceptionsabout Type One
Diabetes Let’s set the record straight about some untrue comments that many people(adultsand children) with type 1 diabetes often
hear: “You must have OD’d on sugar to get type 1
diabetes.”Not so.
“Type 1 is like being hit by lightning. Ithappens sometimes, and it’s not anybody’s
fault,” says Steven Griffen, MD, a vicepresident for JDRF (formerly called the
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation).“Unfortunately, we don’t know exactly whatcauses type 1 diabetes, and researchers arestill trying to get a clear picture about geneticand environmental factors that may playroles, including exposure to viruses or
bacteria that live in your gut.” One thing we do know, though, is that it’s
not brought on by too much sugar. “Could it come from getting a vaccine as a
kid?”Scientists haven’t found a link between
vaccines and type 1 diabetes. “You put on too much weight. That’s what
caused it.”No, weight is not to blame for the disease,either. Obesity and inactivity are big riskfactors for type 2 diabetes and many other
health problems, but there’s no suchconnection to type 1.
Diabetes in children: what are the signs?The most common symptoms
of both type 1 and type 2
diabetes among children and
adolescents include increased
thirst and urination, fatigue
and weight loss. Some
children may also experience
increased hunger and blurred
vision, while girls with type 1
diabetes may develop a yeast
infection. Symptoms of type 1
diabetes in children tend to
develop rapidly over a period
of a few weeks, while type 2
diabetes symptoms develop
more slowly. Parents should
take their child to the doctor if
they notice any of the above
symptoms. But despite an
increase in diabetes
prevalence among children
and adolescents, it seems
there is a lack of awareness
when it comes to identifying
symptoms of the condition.
How is diabetes diagnosed?Although blood tests are the
most reliable way to diagnose
diabetes, your child’s doctor
may first order a glucose urine
test because it’s easier to
have a child pee into a cup
than to draw his/ her blood. If
there’s sugar in his/ her urine,
a random bloodglucose test
(one that doesn’t require
fasting) can confirm the
diagnosis, usually while you’re
still at the doctor’s office. A
bloodglucose reading of 200
milligrams per deciliter
(mg/dL) or higher indicates
your child has diabetes and
will need to be given insulin
multiple times every day to
help her body process
glucose. Fortunately, there
have been great
advancements in managing
this lifelong affliction
After the Diagnosis If your child has diabetes, it’s
critical that his/her bloodsugar
levels stay in a safe range. This will
be determined by a doctor, but it
will be slightly higher than the
normal bloodsugar level range of
70mg/dL to 120mg/dL. Levels that
drop too low or spike too high can
lead to seizures, coma, and even
death. Whenever your child eats or
is physically active, you’ll need to
take a droplet of blood pricked from
her finger and check her sugar
level using a handheld blood
glucose meter. To cut down on
finger sticks, some families have
switched to continuous glucose
monitoring systems, devices that
constantly check a child’s sugar
levels through a sensor inserted
into her skin for up to six days at a
time. But these readings aren’t as
accurate as metered ones, so kids
must still endure a few finger pokes
each day.
Diabetes in Children: Counting CarbsCarbohydrate counting is a
skill that can help you and
your child plan his or her
meals to manage diabetes
and control blood sugar.
Carbohydrate counting also
can allow your child to eat a
variety of foods, just like other
kids, and to increase his or
her sense of control and
confidence in managing
diabetes. When you and your
child know how much
carbohydrate is in food, you
can spread it throughout the
day and control portion sizes.
This helps to keep your child’s
blood sugar in his or her
target range after meals. High
blood sugar can make your
child feel tired and thirsty and,
over time, can damage many
body organs and tissues.
How Food Labels Can HelpFood labels are easy to read, and
they list a food’s ingredients,
nutritional information, and
calories. So anyone concerned
about eating healthy can learn a lot
from them. For people with
diabetes, food labels also may
provide information they need to
know to keep their blood sugar on
track. For example, if you are using
the constant carbohydrate or the
carb counting meal plan, you can
look for carbohydrates on the food
label. It will tell you how many
grams of carbs you are about to
eat. The number of carb grams on
the label applies to one serving, so
be sure to multiply that number
times the number of servings
you’re eating or drinking.
If you’re using the constant
carbohydrate or the carb counting
plan, knowing the amount of carbs
you’ve eaten can help you
determine how much medicine to
take.
Someone on an exchange plan
also might use food labels. How?
By looking at the food’s breakdown
of carbs, protein, and fat.
Caring for a child with diabetesTesting blood glucose (sugar)
and giving insulin may seem
overwhelming in the
beginning.
As you work with your
diabetes team you will learn
about diabetes and become
more confident.
It is important that you
become comfortable with
caring for your child’s
diabetes so that you can help
your child become
comfortable too. As the
caregiver of a child with type
1 diabetes, you will help them
with:
Monitoring blood glucose
Administering insulin
Having regular meals and
snacks Balancing food,
medication and physical
activity
Recognizing the signs of low
and high blood glucose
Talking to your Child about DiabetesThe way you talk to your child
about diabetes will have a big
impact on how they perceive
their diabetes and themself.
Being positive and supportive
will help boost your child’s
selfesteem.
Talk to your child about how
foods fit into a healthy lifestyle.
For example, no single food
should be described as “bad”
or “junk.”
Describe blood glucose levels
as “in target,” “high,” or “low.”
Try to avoid describing blood
glucose levels as “good” or
“bad.” Remember that
diabetes is only one part of a
child’s life. Talk to you child
about other important things
that are happening in their life
such as school, sports and
social events.
Children with Diabetes in School Schools should permit students
living with diabetes to monitor their
blood glucose (sugar), administer
insulin and treat low blood glucose
(hypoglycemia) and high blood
glucose (hyperglycemia)
conveniently and safely wherever
and whenever required. School
personnel should be trained to
recognize emergency situations
and to respond appropriately
according to the student’s individual
care plan (ICP).
School personnel should be
trained to administer glucagon in
the event of a severe hypoglycemic
reaction.
Teach your child to manage his or
her diabetes from the first day at
school.
Set up a care plan for your child
and work with school staff to help
your child manage diabetes daily.
You’ve probably already bought the
basic school supplies for sending
your child back to school. But if
your child has diabetes, you need
to make additional preparations.
Encourage your Child to eat Healthy FoodsPrepare a healthy breakfast,
which will help your child stay
focused and active. If you
send a lunch with your child,
pack a healthy meal that
contains whole grains, fresh
fruits, and vegetables.
Replace highfat foods with
lowfat options, such as low
fat turkey, reducedfat
cheese, and skim milk.
Include healthy snacks, such
as fruit, nuts, or seeds, which
your child can eat later in the
day to avoid the vending
machine and keep blood
sugar under control. If your
child buys meals at school,
look at the cafeteria menus
together to help him or her
make choices for a healthy
meal plan. Many schools post
their menus online, or you can
request this information from
school workers
Be sure your Childgets at least 60
minutes ofPhysical Activity
Every DayHaving diabetes doesn’t
mean that your child can’t be
physically active or participate
in physical education classes.
In fact, being active can help
your child improve his or her
blood sugar control. Limit
screen time—TV, video
games, and the Internet—to 1
to 2 hours a day. Being active
at an early age establishes
good habits for a lifetime and
is a lot of fun.
Encourage your child by
being active together—doing
such things as walking the
dog, riding bicycles, or
playing basketball—and you
will get the health benefits
too.
Children With Type 2 DiabetesYears ago, it was rare to hear
about a child with type 2 diabetes.
Doctors used to think kids only got
type 1. It was even called juvenile
diabetes for a long time.
Not anymore. Now more and more
people younger than 20 have this
disease.
What Is Type 2 Diabetes?
You’ve probably heard diabetes
and high blood sugar mentioned
together. Here’s what happens.
Your digestive system breaks
down carbohydrates into a type of
sugar called glucose. Your
pancreas creates a hormone,
known as insulin, that moves
glucose from your blood into your
cells, where it’s used for fuel.
In type 2 diabetes, the cells in your
child’s body don’t respond to the
insulin, and glucose builds up in
her bloodstream.
This is called insulin resistance.
Eventually, the sugar levels in his/
her body get too high for it to
handle. That could lead to other
conditions in the future, like heart
disease, blindness, and kidney
failure.
How Is Type 2 Diabetes Treated?
The first step is to get your child to thedoctor. He can tell if he/ she’s overweightbased on his/her age, weight, and height.He’ll test her blood sugar to see if she has
diabetes or prediabetes. If she does have diabetes, it may take afew extra steps to find out if it’s type 1 ortype 2. Until he knows for sure, he may
give her insulin. Once he confirms it’s type 2 diabetes, he’llask you to help her make lifestyle changes.He may suggest she take a medication
called metformin. It and insulin are the onlytwo blood sugarlowering medicines
approved for kids younger than age 18, butothers are being studied. Your child shouldget a hemoglobin A1c test every 3 months.This test measures her average blood
sugar levels over that period. She’ll need tocheck her blood sugar: When she starts or
changes treatmentIf she doesn’t meet her treatment goals Ifshe has to take insulin If she takes a
sulfonylurea drugThe doctor will teach you both how to testblood sugar and tell you how often. Mostexperts suggest three or more times a day
if she’s on insulin.If she’s not, she can check less often, butshould do it after meals. She can use atraditional finger stick test or a continuous
glucose monitor.
Can You Prevent Type 2 Diabetes In Children?The same steps used to treat
type 2 diabetes in children canalso prevent it.
Reduce fats and sweets in yourchild’s diet. Make sure he/ she
gets physical activity each day.Studies show that exercise has a
dramatic effect on reducinginsulin resistance. These are twoeasy ways to help your child get
down to and stay at a healthyweight and normal blood sugar
levels. Healthy eating andphysical activity help children
grow, learn and build strongbones and muscles.
As a parent or caregiver, youhave a great opportunity to be a
role model of positive behavioursand a healthy lifestyle. Healthy
food choices and regularphysical activity may help
children to maintain a healthyweight and prevent healthproblems, including type 2
diabetes. Type 2 diabetes usuallydevelops in adults, butincreasing numbers of
overweight children and teensare being diagnosed
Important Sick Day Rules For A Diabetic ChildTest their blood glucose levels
more often than usual ( maybe
every 2 – 4 hours)
Test for ketones if their blood
glucose level is 13.3mmol/L or
above – this is necessary to
prevent the development of
diabetic ketoacidosis which will
require urgent medical attention
Give them plenty to drink – ideally
water or no added sugar squash
Encouraging them to keep eating –
small and often may be better – if
they are vomiting and/or don’t feel
like solid food then milky or sugary
drinks may be given(if their blood
glucose levels are low) Making
adjustments to their rapid acting
insulin dose
And finally – most important of all
– do not stop or reduce your child’s
long acting insulin even when they
are ill
If you are at all concerned about
your child’s condition or are unable
to bring down their ketone levels,
or if you are unsure if you are able
to manage their
medication/symptoms at home –
seek medical advice immediately.
Find Ways to Cope with Bullying Sometimes kids pick on peers with
diabetes or other health problems.
Your child might use the following
ways to deal with teasing or
bullying: Act brave, walk away, and
ignore the bully. Tell your child to
look the bully in the eye and say
something like, “I want you to stop
right now.”
Counsel your child to then walk
away and ignore any further
taunts. Encourage your child to
“walk tall,” head held high (this
type of body language sends a
message that your child isn’t
vulnerable).
Use humor or give the bully a
compliment to throw the bully off
guard. However, tell your child not
to use humor to make fun of the
bully.
Use the buddy system. Enlisting
the help of friends or a group may
help both your child and others
stand up to bullies.
Tell an adult. If your child is being
bullied, emphasize that it’s very
important to tell an adult.
Teachers, principals, parents, and
lunchroom personnel at school can
all help to stop it.
Correct MisconceptionsTalk to your child about the fact that
people do nothing to deserve
diabetes — it just happens. Also, if
your child feels like the diabetes is
causing problems for you or your
family, offer reassurance that
there’s no reason to feel guilty.
Instead, your child should focus on
dealing with his or her own feelings
about diabetes, not yours.
Tell friends, teachers, and others
about your child’s diabetes
Ask if your child would like others to
know about the diabetes. Kids
sometimes find it less embarrassing
if they tell friends and classmates
that they have diabetes — that way,
they don’t have to worry about what
their friends will think when they
head to the nurse’s office every
day.
Teachers and care providers also
should know about your child’s
condition and its management (for
instance, if your child takes breaks
to test blood sugar or eats snacks
at certain times).
Connect with others dealing with
diabetes Finding a support group
for kids and families with diabetes
Get Help When You Need ItBe sure to keep your child’s
diabetes health care team in
the loop about any emotional
issues — they deal with this
all the time and can provide
help for your child and advice
for you. If your child shows
any signs of depression (such
as prolonged sadness or
irritability, fatigue, appetite
changes, or changes in
sleeping habits), talk to your
child’s doctor or a mental
health professional.
Every parent of a child with
diabetes must deal with the
feelings that surround the
disease. Try to keep in mind
that for most kids, negative
feelings about diabetes pass
or change with time as they
adjust to living with it.
Everything You Need To Know About Diabetes
Diabetes Support Site
Website http://diabetessupportsite.com