Raising a child can often be fraught with challenges. Adding diabetes into the mix can be especially difficult for the child, parents, siblings, and friends. The good news is that modern health care professionals have experience with managing diabetes in children and are prepared to help you.
Managing type 1 diabetes can be a challenge for anyone, but it can be particularly difficult for young children and teens. At a time when it’s important to fit in and become part of the group, young diabetics are suddenly saddled with diet choices, learning how to monitor blood glucose, and adjusting their activities to their energy levels – all things their non-diabetic friends and classmates don’t have to deal with.
Raising a newly diagnosed type 1 diabetic child offers a myriad of physical and emotional challenges – especially when both parents work or if you are running a household as a single parent. Diabetes is a serious metabolic disease that demands your attention – one that is likely to change the way everyone in the family conducts their lives.
Getting the news that you or your child has type 1 diabetes is a blow that affects virtually every part of your life – including the entire family. After asking about how it will specifically change the way they live, newly diagnosed diabetics often want to know how they contracted it, or if they did anything to jeopardize their child's health. Could they have done anything differently to avoid it?
If you have an active, growing child, you’re seldom surprised by the amount of energy and food young girls and boys can consume. But if your child begins to slow down, exhibiting unusual behaviors for their age, you may want to have them screened for diabetes. Common symptoms of type 1 diabetes in children include:
Even if a member of your family already has diabetes, discovering that your child has the disease means you'll have a lot to learn. Your child will have to be taught how to live with type 1 diabetes, and as parents, you'll need to know how to support them by learning about diet, nutrition, exercise, medications, and the symptoms of high and low blood sugar. It all starts with a visit with your doctor.
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