About this topic
Diabetes is a health problem where your childs immune system destroys the organ that makes insulin. The body needs insulin to control how much sugar is in the blood. Diabetes does not go away. Your child will control it with eating right and taking drugs as ordered by a doctor. ‚
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What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do to care for your child.
- You need to check your childs blood sugar level. Your doctor will tell you how often, but it is most often a few times a day.
- Your child will need insulin. Talk to your doctor to see if shots a few times a day or an insulin pump is best for your child.
- You need to give your child a balanced, healthy diet. You may need to keep track of how much sugar and starch is in your child's food. You may talk about this with your doctor or dietitian.
- Talk with the doctor about the right amount of exercise for your child.
- Take extra care of your child's feet. Check them often. Avoid letting them get open wounds.
- Make family members and teachers aware of your child's illness and how to help your child.
What follow-up care is needed?
Talk with your doctor often. Your childs diet and insulin shots may change. They will depend on your child's age and needs. The doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your child's progress. Be sure to keep these visits. ‚
What drugs may be needed?
Your child will need insulin given since his or her body cannot make it. The insulin will help control your childs blood sugar. Talk with your doctor about what type of insulin is best for your child. ‚
Will physical activity be limited?
Help your child get into physical activities, such as sports or dance lessons. This may help to keep blood sugar levels low. Always check your childs blood sugar before and after 45 minutes of physical activities. Your child may need an extra snack as his activities increase. ‚
What changes to diet are needed?
- Work closely with your doctor or dietitian on what foods your child may eat. You may need to balance how much sugar, starches, fat, and protein are in your childs food.
- Eat meals at the same time every day. Do not let your child skip a meal.
- Encourage high fiber foods such as vegetables, whole grain breads, pastas, and cereals.
What problems could happen?
If this health problem is not controlled, these problems might happen: ‚
- Eye problems
- Kidney problems
- Infection
- High blood pressure
- Numbness
- Weakness
- Problems breaking down food
- Heart problems
- Sores which are hard to heal
- Foot problems
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
This is a life-long problem and you cannot prevent it. Your child can still have a normal life. Diabetes can be managed through diet, drugs, and with the help of family members and friends. ‚
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of low blood sugar. These include anger, shaking, a fast heartbeat, confusion, or sweating. Keep hard candies, glucose tablets, liquid glucose, or juice on hand for low blood sugar.
- Signs of high blood sugar. These include sleepiness, blurry eyesight, passing urine more often, increased thirst, breath has a fruity sweet smell, upset stomach and throwing up, dizziness, or passing out.
- Numbness or pain in the feet or legs
- Sores on the feet
- Throwing up more than once
- Your child is not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or your child is feeling worse
Helpful tips
Make sure your child always carries a diabetes emergency kit. ‚
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you about your child. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my childs condition.
- I can tell you what changes I need to make with my child's diet.
- I can tell you what I will do if my child feels dizzy, shaky, sweaty, and confused.
Where can I learn more?
American Diabetes Association ‚
http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/type-1/?loc=HomePage-type1-tdt ‚
KidsHealth ‚
http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/endocrine/type1.html ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚