Kids With Type 1

Kids have a particularly hard time in dealing with diabetes. It seems as soon as they get the blood sugar management routine down, they suddenly go through a growth spurt or enter adolescence and everything changes. In particular, teens either want to fit in or not stand out and the daily routine of dealing with their diabetes makes that impossible.

Diabetes in kids can have more complications than adults, they have yet to mature and fully understand the hazards of missing a blood sugar test or experiment with drugs or alcohol. Such matters will need to be explained to children, especially those with diabetes type 1 in kids on a periodic basis, even if they are still following their prescribed schedule.

Every child, not to mention adults are going to slip once in a while and miss a blood sugar test, that’s understandable. But if your child is continually missing their blood sugar tests, the risks can be quite significant. Your child risks developing nerve damage and other potential complications which remain as long as the blood sugar level is high. Other complications include;

Poor Concentration: While no direct cause has been found, children with high blood sugar tend to do less well in school, particularly in academic performance.

Eye Damage: The most frequent cause of blindness in adults between the ages of 20 to 74 is Retinopathy, a direct result of uncontrolled blood sugar levels.

Ketoacidosis: A serious, sometimes fatal buildup of ketones in the blood, which leads to abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. In severe cases if left unchecked, it can lead to coma and be potentially fatal.

By informing your child of the danger of uncontrolled blood sugar, you are empowering them to take action on their own. Be open and honest with your child about the dangers of diabetes in kids and understand their frustrations and concerns about continuing their insulin routine.

Diabetes type 1 in kids can be dangerous if they do skip checking their blood sugar. For those times of emergency, you and your child need to form a plan of action. By knowing what to do, such a plan can save their lives if need be.

Diabetes in kids can be a serious problem and there are times in which you may feel helpless. Reaching out to others who also suffer from diabetes can be very helpful in not feeling alone. Some parents even bring in a psychologist or social worker to help, but the most important thing to remember is that diabetes in kids can be held in check for the rest of the lives if they stick to their blood sugar checking routine.

RESOURCES FOR DIABETES IN KIDS

The American Youth Understanding Diabetes Abroad or AYUDA raises awareness of diabetes in the US with children and young adults spreading the message. Employing youth leadership programs and diabetes camps, AYUDA empowers those to act as agents for change within their communities. Teams are recruited across the US and the world who, along with medical professionals, are interested in making a difference in the lives of children living with diabetes abroad.

Another source of information about Diabetes type 1 in kids is a current study of 300 schoolchildren and their families in Plymouth, UK, who are taking part in the EarlyBird Diabetes Study. This 12-year project examines the factors in childhood that lead to the development of diabetes in later life. The URL is
http://www.earlybirddiabetestrust.org/