Type 1 Diabetes: Children Living With The Disease: Home Treatment

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Home Treatment

The daily care for your child with type 1 diabetes can seem overwhelming, leading to conflicts between you and your child. Here are some tips that may help:

Make mealtimes less stressful

Mealtimes can become a battleground when you want your child to get a certain amount of carbohydrate. You can:

• Meet regularly with a registered dietitian. A registered dietitian can help set up a flexible meal plan to meet your child's appetite needs and allow for special events, such as parties and school activities. Some tips for mealtimes with young children include having alternative meal choices.
• Use rapid-acting insulin so you can give the insulin dose after a meal based on what your child ate.
• Count carbohydrate.

  Diabetes: Counting carbs if you use insulin

Make giving insulin less difficult

Your child may take several insulin injections each day or use an insulin pump. If you need help with giving the shots, see:

Diabetes in children: Giving insulin shots to a child.

Keep monitoring reasonable

If you test several times a day (before breakfast, with meals, and at bedtime), you can tell how well your child's blood sugar levels stay within a target range. You need to test more often when your child is sick. Follow the sick-day guidelines that you and your child's doctor set up, or call for help. Do not give your child nonprescription medicines without talking with the doctor.

Diabetes in children: Checking blood sugar in a child

Encourage physical activity

Children and teens need to get at least 60 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity most days of the week, preferably daily.⁷ Try to have at least 15 minutes of energetic activity during that time. Children with type 1 diabetes can participate in sports just like children without diabetes. But children who use insulin are at risk for low blood sugars during and after exercise. Some tips for exercising safely for your child with type 1 diabetes can help prevent low blood sugar levels.

If your child has a tendency to be inactive, you may need to:

• Limit his or her time playing video games, watching TV, or using the computer.
• Plan some activities to do along with your child, such as skating or bicycling.

Catch the ups and downs

Because blood sugar levels can drop to dangerous levels very quickly:

• Have your child always wear medical identification so medical personnel can give the right care. You can buy medical-identification bracelets, necklaces, or other forms of jewelry at a pharmacy or on the Internet.
• Make sure everyone who cares for your child knows how to treat low blood sugar quickly. For more information, see:

  Diabetes in children: Preventing low blood sugar.

High blood sugar levels develop more slowly, over a period of hours. For more information, see:

Diabetes in children: Preventing high blood sugar.

Keep your child healthy and safe

With planning and care, your child can live a safe and healthy life. Here are some suggestions:

• Try not to let your child go barefoot. If you notice a foot problem, even a minor one, talk with a doctor before treating it.
• Keep your child's day-care or school plan for diabetes care up to date.

  Diabetes in children: Preparing a care plan for school

• Have written instructions for your babysitter and other caregivers.
• Keep your child's immunizations up to date.
• Help your child care for his or her skin and teeth and gums. Make sure your child has a dental checkup every 6 months.

Keep your balance

It's difficult to deal with such a demanding disease as diabetes. You can:

• Allow children with diabetes to participate in their treatment to the extent they can.
• Join a support group for parents of children with diabetes. These groups can be very helpful, especially the first few years after diagnosis. Local groups are available in most areas.
• Encourage your child to attend camps for children with diabetes. It's a good learning experience for your child and will give you some time to yourself.

Last updated:	January 19, 2007
Author:	Robin Parks, MS
Reviewed By:	Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics, Alan C. Dalkin, MD - Endocrinology
Editors:	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Pat Truman, MATC