Managing diabetes in children is a part of treatment plan for diabetes. Diabetic children can lead a normal healthy and enjoyful life. Monitoring the blood glucose levels regularly helps in diabetes management. Read on to get more tips on management of diabetes.The first reaction of a parent when they come to know that their child is suffering from diabetes is usually getting overwhelmed and frightened. They fear that they need to be aware of a whole lot of things and that life may not be normal ever again. It is understandable that these reactions are natural but after all they also need to realise that they have got an added responsibility and they need to make the most of it and live life to the fullest. What is more, it is also their duty to ensure that their kid gets a healthy and joyful life. Once the fact is accepted, you need to learn a few tips of diabetes management. This will not only make life easier for you but also help your child reap the benefits in his later life. In this articleBegin by Understanding the Insulin ScheduleRegularly Test the Blood Glucose LevelsLearn How to Deal with Blood Sugar DipEnsure Good NutritionGive Importance to Regular WorkoutsBegin by Understanding the Insulin Schedule Diabetes occurs because the kid’s system is no longer able to produce adequate amount of insulin that is required. Therefore he requires replacement at regular intervals and this provided through insulin injections or pumps. The doctor charts out a schedule that you need to strictly adhere to. It is like: Give your child the prescribed fixed dose of intermediate and rapid acting insulin. Here you must also ensure that the kid is having his meal exactly when the insulin is at its peak action stage. The same time must be maintained everyday and you must make sure that the diet is also according to the diet plan. That is, it should comprise of the desired proportions proteins, carbohydrates and the essential fats. If the doctor has suggested insulin pump, it means that you must ensure that the kid has a complementary rapid action insulin dose that is in accordance with the carbohydrate content of his respective meal. Regularly Test the Blood Glucose Levels The blood glucose levels must be checked regularly before the kid has his meal and at bedtime. If the child has hypoglycemia, you need to adhere to the schedule chart suggested by the doctor. It is important to maintain a log book of the meals and blood glucose results. This helps in the management of the child’s diabetes as the fluctuations levels if any, can be noted and sorted out by the doctor. Learn How to Deal with Blood Sugar Dip When the child is suffering from juvenile or type 1 diabetes, his blood sugar levels might plummet all of a sudden. This is known as hypoglycemia. You can read the signs if the child is complaining of a headache, double vision, dizziness and you notice irritability, trembling or shakiness and lack of coordination between his limbs. When the blood glucose levels drop below 70 there can also be convulsions and the child can become unconscious. Here you would require your child to drink a concentrated amount of sugar to restore the balance. In such cases doctors can suggest a couple of teaspoons of honey, or a few pieces of candy, half-can of regular soda or two glucose tablets. The point is to have a quick sugar source at your disposal to meet emergency situations. Ensure Good Nutrition It is very important that you seek the advice of an expert diabetes educator to understand the ideal diet for your diabetic child. In order to effectively maintain his glucose levels, the diet needs to be balanced so that fluctuations do not occur often. Further, you must also ensure that the developmental requirements of essential nutrients are provided to the kid. Give Importance to Regular Workouts Regular physical activity plays a great role in maintaining the glucose levels of a diabetic patient. Therefore encourage the kid to exercise regularly and try to make the session as enjoyable as possible so that kid does not feel any grudge but does it willingly.
Managing diabetes in children is a part of treatment plan for diabetes. Diabetic children can lead a normal healthy and enjoyful life. Monitoring the blood glucose levels regularly helps in diabetes management. Read on to get more tips on management of diabetes.The first reaction of a parent when they come to know that their child is suffering from diabetes is usually getting overwhelmed and frightened. They fear that they need to be aware of a whole lot of things and that life may not be normal ever again. It is understandable that these reactions are natural but after all they also need to realise that they have got an added responsibility and they need to make the most of it and live life to the fullest.
What is more, it is also their duty to ensure that their kid gets a healthy and joyful life. Once the fact is accepted, you need to learn a few tips of diabetes management. This will not only make life easier for you but also help your child reap the benefits in his later life.
Begin by Understanding the Insulin Schedule
Diabetes occurs because the kid’s system is no longer able to produce adequate amount of insulin that is required. Therefore he requires replacement at regular intervals and this provided through insulin injections or pumps. The doctor charts out a schedule that you need to strictly adhere to. It is like:
Give your child the prescribed fixed dose of intermediate and rapid acting insulin. Here you must also ensure that the kid is having his meal exactly when the insulin is at its peak action stage. The same time must be maintained everyday and you must make sure that the diet is also according to the diet plan. That is, it should comprise of the desired proportions proteins, carbohydrates and the essential fats.
If the doctor has suggested insulin pump, it means that you must ensure that the kid has a complementary rapid action insulin dose that is in accordance with the carbohydrate content of his respective meal.
Regularly Test the Blood Glucose Levels
The blood glucose levels must be checked regularly before the kid has his meal and at bedtime. If the child has hypoglycemia, you need to adhere to the schedule chart suggested by the doctor. It is important to maintain a log book of the meals and blood glucose results. This helps in the management of the child’s diabetes as the fluctuations levels if any, can be noted and sorted out by the doctor.
Learn How to Deal with Blood Sugar Dip
When the child is suffering from juvenile or type 1 diabetes, his blood sugar levels might plummet all of a sudden. This is known as hypoglycemia. You can read the signs if the child is complaining of a headache, double vision, dizziness and you notice irritability, trembling or shakiness and lack of coordination between his limbs. When the blood glucose levels drop below 70 there can also be convulsions and the child can become unconscious.
Here you would require your child to drink a concentrated amount of sugar to restore the balance. In such cases doctors can suggest a couple of teaspoons of honey, or a few pieces of candy, half-can of regular soda or two glucose tablets. The point is to have a quick sugar source at your disposal to meet emergency situations.
Ensure Good Nutrition
It is very important that you seek the advice of an expert diabetes educator to understand the ideal diet for your diabetic child. In order to effectively maintain his glucose levels, the diet needs to be balanced so that fluctuations do not occur often. Further, you must also ensure that the developmental requirements of essential nutrients are provided to the kid.
Give Importance to Regular Workouts
Regular physical activity plays a great role in maintaining the glucose levels of a diabetic patient. Therefore encourage the kid to exercise regularly and try to make the session as enjoyable as possible so that kid does not feel any grudge but does it willingly.
