Whether your child is getting ready for a full day of school or going to afternoon soccer practice, there is no need to worry about your child’s type 1 diabetes condition getting in the way of activities. Doing the following prep will ensure that activities go smoothly throughout the day and that your child’s blood glucose levels stay normal.
Check your child’s diabetes-related supplies
Children need a lot of things to control their blood sugar. Make a list and check it every morning to make sure it is the amount needed for the day.
If your child can carry his or her own bags, check to make sure the supplies are in the bag. Include:
- Glucose meter, test strips, and blood collection needle.
- Insulin, syringe, or insulin pen. Even if your child uses an insulin pump, you still need a spare one in case it fails.
- Ketone body meters, blood and urine test strips.
- Quick-acting supplements containing carbohydrates, such as glucose tablets or juice.
- Glucagon first aid kit (if prescribed accordingly by your doctor).
- Antiseptic wipes.
If your child’s school allows diabetes supplies to be kept in the school nurse’s office, make sure everything is up to date and that supplies, including insulin, glucometers, and test strips, have expiration dates and need to be replaced regularly.
Planning regular meals and extra meals
Eating scientifically helps blood glucose levels stay stable. That’s why it’s important to follow your doctor’s or dietitian’s meal plan. Researchers generally recommend that children with diabetes should count their carbohydrate intake, which means setting a limit on the amount of carbohydrates your child can eat at each meal.
To make sure everything goes smoothly, plan your child’s regular meals and extra meals ahead of time. If your child eats lunch at school, you should know what foods are available. Many schools list menus and related nutritional information online each week. You can check the carbohydrates in the meals served at school to get an idea of what your child’s meals will be.
If your child brings meals from home, keep track of the amount of carbohydrates in each food, which can help determine the amount of insulin your child needs. If your child does not eat all of the food, or if he or she exchanges food with a classmate, the insulin dose may have to be adjusted.
Prepare for a “low blood sugar”
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Your child’s blood sugar may drop excessively, which doctors call hypoglycemia. If untreated, hypoglycemia can lead to convulsive episodes.
It is critical to get appropriate treatment quickly. Your child should have a “hypoglycemia kit” at all times. Fill this kit with quick-acting carbohydrate-sourced foods, such as glucose tablets, hard candy, and juice.
Give your child’s teacher, bus driver, coach, and caregiver a kit and make sure they have it handy.
Increase the frequency of blood glucose monitoring when participating in physical activity
Whether your child is practicing baseball or taking a physical education class, exercise can have an impact on blood glucose. In some cases, physical activity can increase the production of stress hormones and raise blood glucose levels.
To understand your child’s response to exercise, blood glucose testing should be done before and after the activity. This information can help manage blood glucose. Your child may need to eat fewer carbohydrates before he or she can start participating in activity, and your doctor may need to adjust his or her insulin dose.
In some cases, a child’s blood glucose may be low for several hours after exercise, and may even become low late at night. If this happens, consult your doctor. Your doctor may tell you to test your blood sugar before bedtime or change your insulin dose.
Get information about special events and prepare ahead of time
Sometimes, a child will participate in an activity that requires extra preparation. These activities include camping, attending parties, and other after-school activities. Try these suggestions to make sure your child stays healthy:
- Tell teachers, coaches, and chaperones that your child has diabetes, and also make sure that someone with diabetes-related experience is available to help your child.
- Make sure the child carries diabetic supplies.
- Check the location of the activity. The child will need food, restrooms, and water throughout the day.
- Learn about the regular meals and extra meals served at the activity. Help your child choose which foods to eat or decide whether to have meals delivered.
- Ask for a specific schedule. Your child may increase physical exertion during these activities or may eat at a different time of day than usual, which may have an impact on blood glucose levels.
Give each dedicated staff member an emergency care plan
Even with careful planning, your child’s blood sugar can fluctuate. You should make sure that your child will always have a health care provider with experience related to diabetes with him or her to help at all times. At school events, this person may be a school employee, such as the school nurse. For extracurricular activities, this could be a mentor or a sports coach. Give each dedicated staff member a copy of the child’s emergency care plan. This written plan should explain clearly who to contact and what to do if a problem occurs.