Children and Diabetes Management
The inability of the body's natural insulin to control blood sugar levels is called diabetes. Diabetes describes the condition of a failure of insulin to deliver glucose to the cells of the body for energy.
When insulin becomes no longer effective in regulating blood sugar levels, this is referred to as type II diabetes. Juvenile diabetes or diabetes usually occurring in childhood is type I diabetes. With type I diabetes, the body does not produce enough insulin to control blood sugar levels.
Because insulin is necessary for the metabolism of glucose, people who do not produce insulin must receive the insulin through injections or insulin pump therapy. The administered insulin decreases the amount of glucose in the blood and helps the body be able to use the glucose.
Once a child is diagnosed with diabetes, the parents must educate themselves on how to manage the diabetes and help their children live a healthy lifestyle. Many factors affect children and diabetes.
The initial information that must be learned about diabetes management can seem overwhelming. The parents are likely to receive many instructions on diabetes management including the administration of insulin. The physician may recommend that the parents meet with a dietitian.
Though there is a lot to learn about diabetes management, parents should keep in mind that it will become less overwhelming than merely part of the routine. There are many resources to help parents of children with diabetes.
Support groups for people with diabetes can often be found through hospitals. Many hospitals also have educational classes for people with diabetes and their families. Support groups and educational classes can provide a wealth of information as well as emotional support.
Articles containing general information about diabetes as well as articles specifically about children and diabetes can be found on the website of the American Diabetes Association. Through this website, parents can also request more information about diabetes. The website also has a section for children who have diabetes to help them learn about diabetes as well is give them an opportunity to interact with other children with diabetes.
If the child attends school, the parents should discuss the child's diabetes management with the school nurse. Parents should know the general practices of the school as well is what the school nurse will do if there is a diabetic emergency.
Parents should not be afraid to ask for the physician questions about their child's health or diabetes management. By becoming well educated about diabetes management, parents of diabetic children and feel more confident and less overwhelmed about diabetes management.
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