In pediatric diabetes, beta cells (special pancreatic cells that make insulin) are destroyed. Insulin is needed in the body to help cells absorb blood glucose for energy. Therefore, without insulin, blood sugar levels rise and can lead to serious health complications.
If you are caring for a diabetic child or teen, it is vital to ensure they are following treatment in order to keep blood glucose levels within the target healthy range. On the other hand, your child’s healthcare team will provide treatment using a diabetes care plan specially tailored for them.
Doctors and researchers are working on a diabetes cure. However, until a cure is found, following a diabetes treatment plan is the only key to a healthy, long life.
Pediatric Diabetes Care Plan
A pediatric diabetes care plan outlines the instructions you, your child, and your caregivers should follow. The plan is designed to help maintain your child’s blood glucose levels within the healthy range.
Parts of a pediatric diabetes care plan.
A diabetes care plan has four main parts:
- Checking pediatric blood glucose levels
- Administering insulin
- Getting physical activity on a regular basis
- Eating a balanced, healthy diet while keeping track of carbohydrate intake
Your child’s health care team helps teach you, your child, and your caregivers how the plan works and how you can adhere to it. Although you may have to learn a lot in the beginning, soon enough you’ll master the ins and outs.
What really happens in childhood diabetes?
1. Monitoring pediatric blood glucose levels
One of the most important aspects of managing pediatric diabetes is checking blood glucose daily or as recommended. This can be done in two main ways:
2. Using a CGM (continuous glucose monitor)
A continuous glucose monitor is a wearable device designed to take blood sugar level measurements every few minutes throughout the day. It features a tread-like sensor that is secured in place just under your child’s skin. Most sensors need to be replaced every ten days. The device provides blood glucose readings so often, allowing you and your child’s healthcare teamwork more effectively to keep blood sugar within a healthy range.
- Using a blood glucose meter
In most cases, it is recommended that children with type 1 diabetes check their blood sugar levels at bedtime and just before meals. This is 3 times a day, but in some cases, it could be necessary to do it more often. Your child’s personalized diabetes care plan will guide you on how often blood sugar measurements should be checked and what should be done if the blood sugar is too low or too high.
Your child’s diabetes management team uses the blood sugar level trend to adjust the insulin plan over time.
Moreover, the team also uses a hemoglobin A1c or HbA1c test (glycosylated hemoglobin test) to monitor your kid’s blood sugar. The results represent the average blood glucose levels in the 2 or 3 months prior to the test. The HbA1c test helps determine how well your child’s diabetes care plan is working.
It is recommended that diabetics keep the A1c at 7% or below to lower the chances of complications.
3. Taking insulin
All diabetic kids and teens need to take insulin to ensure that blood glucose is absorbed by their cells and used for energy. Your child’s healthcare team will create an insulin schedule customized for your child’s specific condition.
How can children get insulin?
- With an insulin pump
An insulin pump continuously administers insulin through a tiny tube secured just under the child’s skin.
- By injection
In most cases, children need 4 or more insulin injections daily. The needle is tiny and the shorts are not very uncomfortable or painful. The diabetes management team will guide you on how you can help your kid cope with insulin injections.
The team will also teach you, your child, and your caregivers how to use the insulin pump or do injections.
Healthy diet
Diabetic kids need the right balance of insulin, exercise, and food to maintain their blood sugar levels within the target range. Therefore, it is essential to understand the effects of different foods on your kid’s blood sugar.
The healthcare team will guide you on healthy eating for your child and how to count carbohydrates in snacks and meals. Knowing the number of carbohydrates your child drinks and eats helps you figure out the amount of insulin they require. Moreover, it gives your kid the flexibility to eat and drink as much and as often as they like.
Just like anyone else, your diabetic kids’ diet should include food items that are high in nutrients and low in calories and fat, such as:
- Whole grains
- Fruits
- Lean protein
- Vegetables
Your child’s diabetes management team will help you create a custom meal plan that takes your child’s health goals and food preferences into consideration and incorporate occasional treats.
Regular physical activity
Kids need exercise in order to feel good, strengthen their bones and muscle, and keep their blood sugar levels under control. Studies show that regular physical activity helps insulin work more effectively. You can motivate your child to engage in physical activity by exercising with them.
It is essential to keep in mind that physical activity can affect your child’s blood sugar for several hours after exercising, or even overnight. Therefore, you should monitor your child’s blood sugar levels more keenly whenever they begin a new activity in order to understand how their body reacts to the new activity. This will help you determine whether it’s necessary to adjust their insulin doses or meal plan to compensate for the change in activity levels.
The bottom-line
Your child’s healthcare provider will occasionally check your kid’s blood pressure, thyroid function, cholesterol levels, growth, liver function, kidney function, and any other signs of trouble. Sometimes, despite the best efforts problems may arise.
Some complications of pediatric diabetes need to be addressed immediately or they could easily become serious or life-threatening, including hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis)
As you care for a diabetic child, the care team and detailed care plan will help guide you. Following your child’s diabetes health care plan and keeping in touch with your child’s healthcare team is the key to keeping your child healthy.
