Managing Type 1 Diabetes in Your Child: Getting Started

Finding out that your child has diabetes can be scary. All the things you need to know may overwhelm you. But you don't have to learn it all right away. You and your child can learn together.

Diabetes happens when the pancreas can no longer make insulin. The body needs insulin to turn sugar (glucose) from food into energy. If the body does not have insulin, the level of sugar in the blood can get too high. Over time, high amounts of blood sugar can harm the body. Diabetes is a lifelong (chronic) disease. There is no known cure. But treating and managing diabetes can allow your child to lead a full, healthy life.

To manage diabetes, you and your child will get the help of a care team. Your child's doctor and care team will help you and your child learn to control your child's blood sugar. Special health care providers on your child's care team may include:

• An endocrinologist. This doctor treats people with diabetes. Pediatric endocrinologists have extra experience with children and teens and their families.
• A diabetes educator.
• A dietitian.
• An occupational therapist.
• A health psychologist or social worker.
• A dentist.
• An eye care provider.
• An exercise trainer.
• A school nurse.
• A pharmacist.
• A podiatrist.

To help control your child's type 1 diabetes, try these tips. They can help your child keep healthy blood sugar levels.

• Monitoring. Your child's care team will work with you. They'll help you set a blood sugar target range for your child. You'll also learn how and when to check blood sugar levels. This helps you watch if your child's blood sugar is in a healthy range. Your child may be able to use a continuous glucose monitoring device. This can make it easier to test blood sugar.
• Managing insulin. You will get a prescription for insulin for your child. You'll be shown how and when to give the insulin to your child. Insulin may be given as a shot or with a pump.
• Eating. A dietitian will help you make a meal plan. You'll learn which foods are best for your child. You'll also learn how much and how often your child should eat.
• Staying active. Daily exercise can help bring down your child's blood sugar level. Ask the health care provider how to keep your child active. Work with a diabetes educator or exercise specialist. They can help you choose the best activity or exercises for your child.

Living with diabetes is a lifelong challenge. The more you learn, the more you'll be able to help your child build skills. But managing diabetes is just one piece of the puzzle. You'll also be coping with your child's feelings, your own feelings, and those of other family members.

• Dealing with grief. It isn't your fault that your child has diabetes. And it's not your child's fault. But you both may feel mad or guilty. You may also feel scared or sad. Or you both may want to deny what's happening. These feelings are normal. They may come and go. But you can learn ways to deal with and face these feelings. Then they may not feel so overwhelming.
• Staying positive. Diabetes is a serious condition. But people with diabetes can have long, healthy, active lives. Your child does not need to stop playing sports, getting together with friends, or doing well in school. Believe that your child can live well with diabetes. You'll help your child believe it, too.
• Getting professional support. A diabetes diagnosis can throw the whole family into a crisis. But education and fine-tuning insulin and blood sugar levels can make the diagnosis feel manageable. If your child, you, your partner, or other children are having trouble coping, think about talking to a licensed clinical psychologist (PhD) or a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). Your child's school may also have support services you can use. Talking a few times to a professional can improve your sense of well-being. Ask your care team about referrals.
• Educating school staff. Ask your care team how to deal with your child's school. Educating the staff will be important. And so will knowing your child's legal rights if your child needs adjustments to be made. Including the school is important for managing diabetes. But you don't need to sort this out yourself. Your care team will help you.
• Helping your child learn to manage their diabetes. As your child gets older, they'll need to be more responsible for managing diabetes. This will need role changes as your child grows. Talk to your care team about how to help your child slowly take more control over managing their diabetes.

These groups provide information, educational programs, and other services. They are there to help you.

• Association of Diabetes Educators & Education Specialists at www.diabeteseducator.org
• American Diabetes Association at www.diabetes.org or 800-342-2383
• Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International at www.jdrf.org or 800-533-2873
• National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse at www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov or 800-860-8747
• Endocrine Society at www.endocrine.org/topics/diabetes or 888-363-6274
• American Dietetic Association at www.eatright.org

Many things in your daily life impact your health. This can include transportation, money problems, housing, access to food, and child care. If you can't get to health care appointments, you may not get the care you need. When money is tight, it may be hard to pay for medicines. And living far from a grocery store can make it hard to buy healthy food.

If you have concerns in any of these or other areas, talk with your care team. They may know of local resources to help you. Or they may have a staff person who can help.