FOR CAREGIVERS
The challenges you face with your child’s diabetes are likely to change as he or she grows. Your diabetes care teamDiabetes care teamYour diabetes care team may include a primary care doctor, a diabetes and hormone doctor (endocrinologist), a registered nurse, a diabetes educator, a dietitian, a heart doctor (cardiologist), a foot doctor (podiatrist), an eye doctor (ophthalmologist/optometrist), a kidney doctor (nephrologist), a dentist, a pharmacist, and a mental health professional. members are the best ones to advise you on care during each stage. But here are some common issues that lots of parents face:
Infants and toddlers (up to 36 months) – Blood glucoseBlood glucoseThe main sugar found in the blood, and the body’s main source of energy. can be hard to predict. It may go from high to low and back again due to not eating regularly.
Preschoolers and grade school (3–7 years) – Appetites and levels of activity can change all the time. These are good years to get kids more involved in their care and build their self-confidence.
Children of older school age (8–11 years) – It’s important to make their diabetes care routine flexible enough to allow the child to join school and/or peer activities.
Preteens and teenagers (12–19) – These years come with even more challenges.
Puberty often brings a need for more insulinInsulinA hormone made by the beta cells in the pancreas that helps glucose move from the blood into the cells. Insulin is also an injectable medicine that is used to treat diabetes by controlling the level of glucose in the blood..
Teens can now handle many parts of their diabetes care.
And this can all cause clashes between you and your teen.
When your child has type 1 diabetes, tracking blood glucose and insulin quickly becomes part of your family’s daily routine. And while it’s tempting (and probably quicker) to do everything for your child, it’s important to involve even young children in their own care.
For your toddler:
As your child grows and develops, his or her needs will change. They will become more independent and want to take a more active role in their diabetes routine.
For your school-age child:
For your teen:
There is no reason why your child can’t go on school trips or stay at a friend’s house as long as:
Here are a few tips for making trips and sleepovers go more smoothly:
See that they have enough insulin and supplies for all their prescribed doses during the trip. And make sure to put the supplies in a place that they can get to easily.
As children get older, they may want to be a part of after-school activities or clubs. They may also be invited to parties at other children’s houses.
Here are a few tips:
Older teens/young adults naturally want freedom from their parents. As they start going out with friends and going to parties, it gets harder to watch what they may be eating or drinking. It’s also harder to know if they are taking insulin correctly. This is a time when talking to one another is vital.