Finding out Your Child has Juvenile Diabetes

It can be an emotional time when you find out that your child has been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. You will wonder how this is going to affect your child emotionally and what it is going to mean for their future health. Your child is also going to be riding an emotional roller coaster. Depending on their age, they may or may not understand everything that is going on but they will understand that there are big changes being implemented. 

When a child is diagnosed with diabetes it affects the entire family. The day to day life of everyone may be changed. It will be a stressful time for but the best thing to do is to utilize the support available to you from your family, friends and health care providers. 

Educate yourself and your family and take it slow and easy. You are going to have a lot to learn and there is going to be a learning curve at the beginning. Not only do you need to learn how to give injections and monitor blood glucose levels but you will also have to plan very specific meals. But it can be done and after some time it will be second nature. 

Your whole family can benefit from the lifestyle changes that are going to be made. It may be especially hard for siblings but they will adjust just as everyone else will too. Eating a healthy well-balanced diet with plenty of exercise and physical activity is good for the entire family. 

Be there to support and listen to your child when they need it. They will be going through a range of emotions from anger to sadness and they are going to need their parents help during these times. If you keep a positive attitude and outlook they will too. 

The Risk Factors for Juvenile Diabetes 

Although there is no known cause for juvenile diabetes there are risk factors that can contribute to the likeliness a child will be diagnosed with the disease. As some forms of type 1 diabetes are an autoimmune disease you can be at a higher risk if you have already been diagnosed with a different autoimmune disease. There are also some conditions surrounding a mother’s pregnancy and labor than could contribute to the diagnosis of juvenile diabetes. 

If your child has been diagnosed with one of these autoimmune disease he or she is considered at a higher risk for diabetes in childhood: 

* If your child has had one of these viruses: hepatitis, mumps, or CMV disease
* Thyroid problems known as hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism (or Graves disease)
* Celiac disease 

There has been some evidence that has shown that a child born to a mother over the age of 35 could be at higher risk for developing type 1 diabetes. This is not conclusive and it is not to say that a child born to a younger mother is not at risk as well. Some studies indicate that a mother who had pre-eclampsia during pregnancy will give birth to a baby with a higher risk of being diagnosed – but this is not a proven fact. 

Other risk factors include race - people from Northern Europe or areas of the Mediterranean – are considered at higher risk than other races. Environmental and dietary factors can play a role too. If a child is under a lot of stress it is considered a reason why he or she may go onto develop type 1 diabetes. Dietary risks factors include high levels of dairy and nitrosamines (used as a preservative in some meats and cheeses). Exposure to toxins is considered a risk factor too.

 Juvenile Diabetes in Younger Children

When younger children are diagnosed with juvenile diabetes is can be very hard on them. They may not understand the severity of the disease and all of the restrictions that are placed on them. It is going to take patience and time for them to get used to their new lifestyle and the changes that go with it. Here are some tips to make the transition a little easier.

Join a support group of other parents whose children have been diagnosed with juvenile diabetes. There experience in dealing with situations that you are going through can help to give you ideas and let you know that you are not alone on this journey. Not only can this type of group benefit the parents, it is for the children too. It will be beneficial for them to have friends that have diabetes too. As they grow older, these friendships can last a lifetime based on the common link of juvenile diabetes.

In the beginning especially you may feel guilt because you are constantly saying no to your child. It is for their own good that they can’t have treats whenever they want but it doesn’t make it any easier. Steel yourself against the cries, begging, and whining that may ensue and know that it will get easier as time goes on. Change is difficult for many including kids.

As your child get older and has more experience under their belt, involve them in the process of managing their diabetes. This will help them feel more in control of their disease and as the same time prepare them for the time when they are going to be on their own and have to take care of their own injections and blood glucose monitoring.

Each child is different and is going to handle the changes in their own way. Be their to support and help your child in whatever way they need.

 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.

Complications Associated with Juvenile Diabetes

As with any disease there are possible complications and side effects and juvenile diabetes is no exception. The risks and complications associated with this disease are serious but can be mitigated with careful monitoring and control of your child’s blood sugars.

All people that have been diagnosed with diabetes need to have their eyes checked on a regular basis. It is common to have eye problems that are known as diabetic retinopathy. This is when the blood vessels in the eyes are damaged because of raised continually raised blood sugars.

Another complication is diabetic nephropathy. This is a problem that develops in the kidneys taking the form of degeneration or a complete shut-down. This is a very serious disease and should be kept in mind as an important reason to keep blood glucose levels under control at all times. If diabetic nephropathy does develop, it will usually occur later in adulthood but will require either dialysis or a transplant.

Some more long-term effects children with diabetes are exposed to are heart disease, strokes, and hypoglycemia. But the severity of the complications and the likelihood of them occurring are dependant on how well the diabetes is controlled.

Research continues everyday on ways to better treat and manage diabetes in children. As soon as your children are old enough to understand the disease, involve them in the management of keeping it under control. They need to learn what is needed of them when they become independent to live with diabetes and lessening the chances of suffering from severe complications.

There have been big strides in the treatment of diabetes which has made it possible to delay our put off altogether some of the more troublesome problems. If you suspect that any of the above mentioned diseases are developing, consult with your doctor right away. Early detection is beneficial.

Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia is when a child (or any other person) with diabetes is suffering from low blood sugars. This can be an extreme and dangerous situation and in the worse case scenarios can lead to a diabetic coma or even death. But with careful monitoring of blood sugar levels this can be prevented.

An important lesson to teach young children with juvenile diabetes is to recognize the signs of when they have low blood sugar. For very young children this is going to be difficult when they don’t have the words or comprehension to explain what they are feeling.

Your child can develop hypoglycemia if they have not eaten enough, have had too much insulin or if they have missed a meal. All of these situations can be avoided but they still happen from time to time. Make sure your child always has some emergency food on hand for these types of situations and knows when they should eat it.

A child suffering from hypoglycemia may display certain symptoms that can help an outsider know what is going on. Especially for young children keep a look out for mood swings, shakiness, paleness, acting strangely or the inability to concentrate. The condition can manifest itself in many different ways but in an individual they usually react the same way to hypoglycemia. Learn how your child reacts to low blood sugars and advise others who care for your child in the course of a day so that they too can be prepared.

If your child is frequently suffering from hypoglycemia, consult with your doctor or diabetes educator. An adjustment to the insulin schedule or the amount of insulin that is given may need to be adjusted. A closer look at the meal plan is warranted too, maybe meal times or the type of food eaten needs to be changed.

Different Responsibilities to give Children with Diabetes

The best way to help your child adjust to being a diabetic is to involve him or her in their treatment plan. Depending on their age and level of maturity the level that they are involved and what they can do will be different. Be aware that as children grow older, they are going to take more and more control over their disease and you have to know when it is time to step back and let them.

For children three years of age and under, the management process is going to be solely in your hands. Even if there is a desire to do things on their own, their coordination skills and maturity level isn’t where it needs to be to give themselves injections or test their own blood. As they are approaching the three year old mark, you may be able to involve them in decisions like which finger is to be used to test their blood or putting the strip into the monitor. Be on the look out for ways to include them as they become older and interested in doing so.

As your child becomes a preschooler they are going to want to do everything on their own no matter what it is. Your child may begin to have more control over testing their blood but it still needs to be done under parental supervision. Insulin injections should still be handled by the parent at this age. Your child will have definite opinions on what they should be eating for meals. Give them options and let them decide what is going to be made for dinner.

From the age of about eight years old and up, your child may be ready to give themselves their own injections. You will have to follow your child’s and your own comfort level.

Having Juvenile Diabetes and Going to School

The vital step after your child is diagnosed with juvenile diabetes is to develop a support network in the community. Your child’s school should be at the top of this as a resource to tap into. Not only is it essential that the teachers at your child’s school know about his special dietary needs and what to do in an emergency they can provide help in other ways too.

In addition to good control of blood glucose levels to ensure the current and future well-being of your child’s health, good control of diabetes is critical to learning. When a child is experiencing highs or lows in the blood sugar reading this can create disruptions and make it hard for them to concentrate and learn.

The teachers or other support personnel are going to need instruction for handling your child’s diabetes and what to do in case of an emergency. For a child with a low blood sugar it is important that their blood glucose level is checked and that they have something to eat. For a child with a high blood sugar, their blood glucose will need to be checked too and a decision has to be made whether or not to give insulin. This is a big responsibility to hand over to another adult and can be nerve-racking for parents.

An emergency kit should be with your child at all the time with instructions on what to do to help if something is wrong. Included should be a snack, a food item or glucose tablet that is fast acting (gets sugar into the system quickly), a list of emergency numbers to call, and a glucose monitor. A teacher or school nurse should be designated as the person responsible for your child while at school and they should have a back-up in case they are not present for a day or more.

Support from Friends and Family

Telling friends and family about your child being diagnosed with juvenile diabetes may bring about mixed emotions. You don’t want your child to be pitied, you don’t want them to be looked at differently, yet you do need people to understand that your child will need some special considerations sometimes.

When you first tell people they will either provide positive support, be neutral, or there may be some negative reactions. The first two reactions are not a problem, you may get offers of support or it may be a non-issue for others. It is the naysayers you need to be careful of. You know it is a serious disease and you need to be sure your child is aware of it too but you don’t need outsiders bringing doom and gloom into the situation. There are tools and support to manage diabetes and your child can still expect a full and happy life.

The easiest way to deal with negative reactions from friends and family members is to educate them. Most times they have an incorrect impression of what diabetes is, how it is managed, and the long-term effects. It is serious but damage can be minimized with good control.

Your child may be nervous telling his or her friends too – afraid that they will be looked at as different. Most children will have a neutral reaction or none at all. It is not something that will affect friendships and it is not a problem. If your child does suffer from teasing or taunting because they cannot have candy or some other silliness – let them talk to you about it and express their feelings. Some of their friends may have questions and some may not. If there is a concern with how your child is being treated or how the diagnosis will be received speak with your child’s teacher.

For even more information please visit our sister site:

http://www.juvenilediabetesexpert.com/index.php

Exercise and sports activity during hot summer days

Taking care of your diabetes while exercising in the heat can still be enjoyable as long as you prepare in advance. When going swimming, whether you are on shots or wear an insulin pump you should always carry with you water, extra snacks, glucose tabs or gels, a few juice boxes and a Glucagon. If you don't have a Glucagon you should talk with your endocrinologist about getting a prescription. This could save your life! Make sure that you are responsible about checking your blood sugar every 30 minutes or so and take any necessary steps to prevent you from going low. Swimming is one of those exercises that although a wonderful exercise for anyone, it can bring your blood sugar down very rapidly within a few minutes. I recommend for those on the pump to disconnect. It is safer to swim without the pump and more fun. You will not be taking extra insulin anyway while you are swimming if you check your blood sugar prior to going into the pool. Also, make sure you don't give yourself too much insulin if you know that you will be swimming for a long period of time. Also, it's important to keep your supplies in a cool container or bag or under some shade. 

When playing outdoor sports it is also important to follow the same rules as when you go swimming. The only difference may be that if you are wearing an insulin pump you can decide whether you feel it is best to disconnect or wear your pump. If the game does not allow for you to check your sugar every 30 minutes or so, make sure that you eat a good snack, maybe something with protein, that will carry you over at a safe range while you play until your next BG check. 

When playing outside on your bicycle, skates, or even running you still need to make sure you stay on track. The key to staying safe and still have fun while exercising in the heat is to drink lots of water, check yourself often, eat snacks as needed and give yourself insulin according to the level of activity. Also, make sure you always take your necessary supplies with you and most especially your glucose tabs or gels with you. You should always be ready to treat your low immediately. Don't forget to have fun!