When parents find out their child has type 2 diabetes, there is a lot of information to know. To help parents figure out what is going on, the information can be broken down. Managing diabetes can be boiled down to 4 things:
- Monitoring blood glucose levels;
- Eating a healthy diet;
- Exercise daily;
- Take your medication as prescribed by your doctor.
The way parents and children manage diabetes varies depending on where the child is, at home, at school, or elsewhere. Things can change as the child gets older.
Glucose
The doctor will give a target range for your child’s blood glucose level. Often, parents need to test their child’s blood glucose 2 times a day or more often, and exercise, diet, and medications can all affect blood glucose levels.
To measure your child’s blood glucose level, use a blood glucose meter. The device comes with a sharp needle for pricking the child’s finger to get blood. The parent then puts a drop of blood on a test strip and puts the strip into the meter to get a blood glucose level, or the child can wear a continuously working blood glucose monitor, which monitors the child’s blood glucose level 24 hours a day.
Meals and snacks
Children with diabetes should stick to a healthy diet, and this is something that all children should follow, but parents of children with diabetes need to be more careful. If the whole family sticks to a healthy diet, the child is more likely to develop healthy eating habits.
To keep your child on a healthy diet and control blood sugar, parents should do the following.
- Consult a dietitian to create a meal plan with three meals a day and some prescribed snacks between meals. Keep food portions reasonable.
- Eat the same amount of carbohydrates at each meal to prevent postprandial blood glucose spikes. Carbohydrates have a greater effect on blood sugar than other foods.
- Teach your child how to count carbohydrates.
- Pack your child’s school lunch to take from home. If your child is buying lunch, parents need to know what is on the menu so they can better control their child’s insulin and other food intake.
- Pack boxes with several servings of juice, snacks, sugar tablets, and other things your child needs to cope with low blood sugar. Put your child’s name on the box and give one copy to your child, the school health care provider, and the teacher.
- Plan to have your child eat at the same time every day.
Exercise
To help your child stay in the habit of exercising, pay attention to the following points.
- Limit the amount of time your child spends facing screens, such as TVs, smartphones, and tablets, to only 1 to 2 hours a day.
- Make sure your child spends at least 1 hour a day playing or exercising. If you can, get the whole family involved.
- Physical activity can affect blood sugar, so test your child’s blood sugar levels before, during, and after exercise.
- Keep essentials such as a blood glucose meter and blood glucose test strips, as well as snacks and water, in an easy-to-access place.
- Make sure your child, coach, and teacher know how to respond to a low blood sugar condition that occurs during your child’s workout or play.
Medications
A combination of healthy eating and exercise can control diabetes in some children, while others need medications to help insulin work better, and some need insulin supplementation, either through injections or with an insulin pump. The doctor will tell the parents which method is right for their child. The important thing is to take the medication or receive the injections at the right time.
Involve your child
One of the best things parents can do for their children is to involve them in managing their condition. The more your child does, the more confident he or she will become.
Parents should do their best to determine what is manageable for their child. Even if the child takes on more responsibility, parents need to pay close attention and support the child when he or she needs it.
3 to 7 year olds are able to:
- Choose which finger blood to use to test blood glucose levels.
- Choose the body part where insulin is injected.
- Count the insulin pen or syringe before removing it.
For children 8 to 11 years old:
- Inject their own insulin with parental supervision.
- Notice symptoms of hypoglycemia and treat themselves.
- Learn to count carbohydrates and start making some healthy food choices.
At age 12 and older, children can:
- Get increasingly independent with blood glucose testing and insulin injections.
- Count carbohydrates.
- Set reminders to take your medication or test your blood glucose levels on time.
As your child enters adolescence, new challenges come with it. The physical changes of adolescence can make blood sugar more difficult to control. In addition, weight and image problems may begin to appear. Parents should be concerned about their child’s emotional problems, such as depression and anxiety, and also about eating disorders. If parents have concerns, talk to their child’s doctor. Parents may consider psychotherapy.
Recommendations for keeping your child safe
Refer to the following suggestions to keep your child safe and healthy at home and at school.
- Make sure your child is wearing a medical sign, bracelet, or necklace with him or her at all times. This is especially important when children are not with their parents.
- Give the school a detailed written plan on how to manage your child’s condition, including how to give insulin, meal and snack schedules, and target blood glucose ranges. Parents can make their own plan or use a template called the Diabetes Medical Management Plan.
- Create an individualized education plan.
- Create individualized education plans. These documents include the child’s diabetes medical plan and explain the school’s responsibilities. These documents help keep the child safe and ensure that the child gets the same education and opportunities as everyone else.
- Make sure the school, coaches, parents of friends, and others of a child with diabetes know how to contact parents and doctors in case of an emergency.
- Teach the sick child, the child’s family, and anyone who has responsibility for the child how to be aware of hypoglycemia and how to manage it.
- Try to stay calm when your child makes a mistake in managing diabetes. Parents need their children to tell them when they notice a problem without fear or favour, rather than trying to hide the problem.