Treatment for Juvenile Diabetes
A child who is diagnosed with juvenile diabetes is going to need to follow a treatment plan for the rest of their life. But they will have a lot of support. And there have been many advances and improvements in the diabetic treatment industry in way of needles and monitoring devices.
Knowing your child’s blood sugar level is crucial to good control of the disease. By using a monitor at home you will see if the diet and insulin that is being provided is sufficient. There are many brands of monitors available and the amount of blood required is a very small drop placed on a strip. The monitor will come with a lancet device to draw the blood from a finger tip – it is relatively painless and takes very little time.
In order to replace or supplement the insulin in your child’s body, a daily injection (sometimes more) is going to be required. In some cases a child will need more than one needle if the insulin from one is not lasting the entire day. You will learn how to monitor and adjust the level of insulin your child receives based on their blood glucose levels and advice from your doctor.
The other part of treating diabetes in children is a balanced diet and plenty of physical activity.Follow the food guide for children and limit the amount of treats that they are given. Daily exercise will help children maintain a healthy weight which in turns helps to control their blood sugar by limiting the amount of insulin they need. After a little bit of time treating diabetes will be come a way of life for you and your child. Expect an adjustment period in the beginning but it will get better as you learn more and get the diabetes under control.
Diabetes Overview
Traveling and Juvenile Diabetes
Planning on a family vacation? Don’t worry trips and other family outings do not have to be restricted because your child has been diagnosed with juvenile diabetes. You can do it all still but there are some extra preparations and planning that will have to happen first. The preparations you make is going to be dependant on what kind of trip you are planning, for how long and the activities that you will be participating in.
It is a good idea if you are going out of town on an airplane or by car to get some documentation from your doctor. You should get a letter that explains your child’s condition and an extra prescription for any unforeseen eventualities. If you are going on a lengthy plane ride, you will need the letter to get permission to bring your child’s medicine and syringes onto the airplane with you instead of storing them in your luggage.
If you are unsure what special arrangements you are going to need to make, speak to your doctor. If you are going on a vacation that will involve lots of extra physical activity (such as camping or hiking), be sure that you bring extra food to replace the energy that is going to be used up. If there is going to be less physical activity, more frequent testing of blood sugar levels will be necessary to make sure too much insulin isn’t being used.
When traveling a distance that involves crossing different time zones, be prepared to make additional adjustments to your child’s eating schedule. No matter what the clock says, your child is going to need their insulin and food on their body’s time. Again, your doctor can help you make a plan for this adjustment and it will be based on the length of your trip, the difference in time zones, and your child.
Dealing with Diabetes
