Parenting a Child with Type 1 Diabetes

Type I Diabetes or Juvenile Diabetes

If your child has type 1 diabetes, you are not alone. Every year more than 13,000 children under the age of 20 are diagnosed with the disease. It is an ailment that crosses all ethnic lines, although it appears to happen more frequently in Native Americans, Hispanics, African Americans, and Pacific Islanders.

Signs and Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes in Children 

While diabetes generally presents the same symptoms in children as it does in adults, it can be difficult to diagnose because children may not be able to express themselves or recognize that something is wrong. Symptoms generally have a rapid onset in children and it is crucial to address them quickly before they progress. Failure to identify high blood sugar can lead to ketoacidosis (acids that build up in the blood, which can cause death) and seizures, among other complications. Take action quickly if any of these indications are present:

• Excessive thirst and urination: One or two days of unusual thirst is not a cause for alarm. However, if after a week the symptoms continue or get worse, it’s time to seek medical help. Of course, if other concerns arise during the week, the child should be seen by a physician.
• Extreme hunger: A hungry child is not unusual, but one who also demonstrates other classic signs, such as thirst, urination, and weight loss, may be experiencing the onset of diabetes.
• Weight loss: Children don’t usually lose weight, especially if they are hearty eaters.

The clinician will do blood and urine testing. High glucose present in the blood and urine are not themselves indicative of diabetes; children frequently respond to acute illness with excess blood sugars. It is important that they be diagnosed as fast as possible because the condition rapidly progresses in younger years.

Actions to Take

1. Don’t Panic. This is a long-term project and you are the key. Children need to know security. You’ll get through this just like all the other parents have.
2. Join a support group. The American Diabetes Association has a support group finder available in your area. Discuss with others how they have met the challenges of parenting a type 1 diabetic. Don’t try to reinvent the wheel.
3. Select the right health care team. Children are not little adults. If you suspect your child of being diabetic, or your physician has diagnosed it, find a pediatric endocrinologist as soon as possible. Children have changing needs that require the experience and specialized training your family physician probably does not have. Specialists usually have an entire support system, including nutritionists who can guide you with diet, a diabetic nurse practitioner who will help you manage the nuances of the disease, and other important staff members who keep abreast of emerging diabetes research. A diabetic educator will help you learn about the illness and assist with educating the patient. They are experienced with all ages of children and are not intimidated by diabetes, as you will probably be at the onset.
4. Educate the rest of the family. The family is the child’s best source of support. A diabetic educator can conduct family sessions if necessary, or help the primary caretaker in the task. Siblings and extended family should be part of the process so the child feels included.
5. Discuss the insulin therapy you and your child can live with. The right therapy and mode of delivery will largely be determined by the age of the child and whether they can contribute to their care. Be sure to consider an effective, efficient, and tolerable blood sugar monitor. Blood sugar testing will become a daily routine and it should be easy on your child as well as easy for you to use. For more information on a free blood sugar monitor, click here.
   
6. As they age, children’s insulin needs will change because their activity will; the mere act of growing will put demands on their insulin. At some point your physician may recommend a pump and other forms of administration.
7. Don’t treat your child like a fragile doll. Restricting your child unnecessarily and being over-protective isn’t good for them or you. They can’t go through life afraid to experience it. Speak with your doctor or diabetic nurse practitioner about activity and sports. Adolescents and teenagers can easily be taught to regulate their insulin based on their diet and exercise. Exercise is imperative to maintain a healthy cardiovascular system especially for diabetics.
8. Prepare for school. Many schools these days are sophisticated enough to accept and handle children with diabetes. Speak to the administration and school nurse about making arrangements for blood glucose testing and insulin administration if required. The Children’s Diabetes Foundation offers a checklist of points to address when arranging for the school year.
9. Order a free Wizdom Kit. The American Diabetes Association offers this free kit which teaches kids about the disease. It is available for parents and children. The promotion delivers information in a fun and effective manner.
10. Diabetes is a disease everyone can live with. The objective is to control the diabetes, not for the diabetes to control your child’s life. Your child’s future depends on your ability to cope.

Diabetes is a disease everyone can live with. The objective is to control the diabetes, not for the diabetes to control your child’s life. Your child’s future depends on your ability to cope.

Corie Richter is a nurse and physician's assistant who started her career as a health educator. The survivor of a myocardial infarction (heart attack) and partially successful quadruple bypass surgery, she did not let her health challenges hamper her. Neither the limitations of spinal surgery nor of diabetes have deterred her from a mission of service. She now encourages others through writing and speaking engagements to master their disabilities through education and a proactive attitude.