Caring For A Child With Diabetes

Caring for a child with diabetes is a hard task for a parent because of the medications and complications that must be dealt with. The occurrence of this disease in children has gone up 300% in the last 30 years. Where type 1 was common in children under 16 years of age; type 2 is on the rise in youngsters. Over 90% of children diagnosed have type 1. This is a disease where the pancreas is unable to produce needed insulin. It is classified as an autoimmune disease, which is a condition where the body's immune system attacks its own tissues and organs. In type 1 childhood diabetes, the insulin producing cells of the pancreas are destroyed. The adult variety is largely self-managed. For parents, there is a greater responsibility when caring for children than if the adult was afflicted with the disease. Parents must monitor their children's diets and blood sugar levels multiple times throughout the day. This monitoring can make leaving the home for extended periods of time extremely difficult. School attendance can be a problem depending on the severity of the disease.

When learning the proper way in caring for children with this disease, a parent must first understand what the disease is. Insulin, what the body is not making, is necessary for the body to be able to use sugar. Sugar is the basic fuel for the cells in the body and insulin takes the sugar from the blood into the cells. When sugar (or glucose) builds up in the blood instead of the cells, cells are starved for energy and over time, high blood sugar levels may endanger eyes, kidneys, nerves and even the heart. The best ways to combat childhood diabetes is strict meal planning for the child. An adult who provides adequate nutrition while caring for a child with diabetes is making the most important step. After the meals have been planned and regulated, making sure the child is getting enough physical activity is a high priority. It is important for parents to carefully monitor the blood sugar level before and after exercise, to understand when and how much insulin to supplement, as exercise increases the use of insulin.

Most young patients will require some form of hospitalization when first diagnosed; routine checkups with a diabetic specialist are mandatory. This is done in order to run the proper tests needed to determine the frequency and amount of insulin supplements that the parent who is caring for a child with diabetes to administer throughout the day. There are a plethora of options when it comes to the deliverance of insulin. A doctor will be able to recommend the most appropriate choice by evaluating the child's lifestyle and severity of disease. Childhood diabetes is usually supplemented with insulin injections. These injections can be in the form of short term, intermediate term and long-term styles. They can also be administered by a parent through the use of a portable pump that slowly secretes insulin into the bloodstream throughout the day, much the same as the body would make insulin naturally.

The short-term insulin injections typically can be felt within 30-60 minutes and will last between 6 and 8 hours. The intermediate level insulin injections for childhood diabetes will be felt within 1-2 hours and will last between 10-14 hours. These two types of insulin injections are typically administered by the parent that is caring for a child with diabetes before each main meal, and perhaps before bed. The last type of injection is not commonly used in children. It is a long lasting injection that can be felt within 1-2 hours and can last up to 24 hours. To correctly administer the insulin injections, a journal must be kept to take notes of when the child is showing symptoms of erratic blood sugar. These symptoms are typically in the range of thirst, weight loss, tiredness, frequent urination, tummy aches, headaches, and behavioral problems.

"Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me." (Psalm 138:7) When a parent realizes that certain symptoms seem to maintain even after an insulin injection, a physician should see the child immediately. Since childhood diabetes can differ greatly between growing children, it is important to keep strict tabs on any sugar level changes and bodily triggers for high or low blood sugar. The insulin levels may have to be adjusted to accommodate the changes, and the parent caring for a child with diabetes needs to be aware of the previous and new levels of insulin that are required to treat this disease. Parents should also stay informed on current or newly approved treatment methods. They should learn to administer the injections with ease, and to teach the older children to administer the injections themselves. Parents should inform the school, friends, other parents, etc of their child's condition. It is also recommended that parents join a local diabetes association group for ongoing support. This is a dangerous disease, and the help that is offered should be utilized.


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