Diabetes is a serious illness in which the body is un exactly what causes diabetes, but they believe that considers diabetes a disability, forbids discrimina …
Health and Safety Notes California Childcare Health Program
Diabetes in the Child Care Setting
What is it?
Diabetes is a serious illness in which the body is unable to properly change sugar from food into energy A simple sugar called glucose is the main source of energy for our body Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas–a large gland behind the stomach– helps the body to use the glucose for energy Diabetes happens when the body does not produce enough insulin Type 1 or insulin-dependent, or use it properly Type 2 or non-insulin-dependent As a result glucose begins to builds up in the blood, creating high sugar levels in the body Children with diabetes usually have Type 1 diabetes, in which the body does not make insulin They therefore need daily injections of insulin 2 Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, is more common in people with Type 1 diabetes It is also sometimes called insulin reaction or insulin shock Symptoms may include hunger, pale skin, weakness, dizziness, headache, shakiness, changes in mood or behavior irritability, crying, poor coordination, sweating, and rapid pulse Treatment commonly involves quickly restoring glucose levels to normal with a sugary food or
drink such as cola, orange juice, candy, or glucose tablets If not treated properly, it can result in loss of consciousness and life-threatening coma
Who gets it and how?
What factors affect blood glucose level?
Approximately 127,000 American children, including 15,000 in California, have Type I diabetes At some time, child care providers are likely to have a child with diabetes in their care Diabetes is not contagious People cannot catch it from each other At present, scientists do not know exactly what causes diabetes, but they believe that both genetic factors and viruses are involved Diabetes can run in families
The amount of blood sugar changes and can be affected by many factors such as diet, exercise, emotional stress, illness, and medicine Exercise helps to lower blood sugar Regular exercise is important because of the need to balance the effect of exercise with food and insulin If possible, the child should test blood glucose levels before taking part in a game or sport to determine when to eat a snack and how much food to eat Types, amount, and frequency of meals and snacks have different effects on blood sugar Children with diabetes need special diets in reasonable
amounts, and on regular schedules Crackers with peanut butter or cheese, pretzels, apples, and juice make ideal snacks A child with diabetes may need to eat a snack before, during, or after energetic exercise Stress from a cold, sore throat, or other illness may increase the level of blood glucose
What are the symptoms?
Two kinds of problems occur when the body does not make insulin: 1 Hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar, occurs with both types of diabetes when the body does not have enough insulin Symptoms include frequent urination, excessive thirst, extreme hunger, unusual weight loss, irritability and poor sleep, nausea and vomiting, and weakness and blurred vision
California Childcare Health Program
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The law and diabetes
The Americans with Disabilities Act, a federal law, considers diabetes a disability, forbids discrimination against the disabled, and puts legal responsibility on child care providers to care for the special needs of children with diabetes Effective January 1, 1998, child care providers in California are allowed to perform a blood-glucose test using a finger-stick test on a child in their care However, they are not required to give an insulin injection
to any child in a child care facility
Child care providers in coordination with parents and health care providers can prepare a special care plan to meet the special needs of children with diabetes, and help them lead healthy, active, and fulfilled lives without having to change their regular program A written, special care plan should include: When to test blood glucose and take insulin Regular meal and snack times Preferred snacks and party foods Usual symptoms of hypoglycemia and preferred treatments
Blood glucose testing
Regular testing of blood glucose levels is a very When and how to notify the childs parents important part of diabetes care Testing is done by of problems taking a drop of blood, usually from a finger, and When and how to contact the childs health care placing it on a special test strip in a glucose meter provider Glucose meters are easy to use, and most children quickly learn how to do their own blood glucose Who will give insulin injections when nedded tests A normal blood glucose level is between 70 and 120 mg/dl Keeping blood glucose levels Preschool-age children with diabetes often need within this range is rarely posfrequent blood glucose tests
sible in children with diabetes because they have not yet Summary of key points A health care provider will often learned to recognize the sympGood diabetes care practices identify a target range for blood toms of low blood sugar, cant include: glucose levels — for example, tell what they feel, or may try to 80 to 180 mg/dl avoid or delay finger-prick and eating reasonably, consistently, insulin injections They may also and on schedule drink and urinate a lot, so make How is it managed? testing blood glucose levels sure they can go to the bathroom Care for diabetes is more regularly as often as they need flexible than it used to be It requires self care or assistance adjusting insulin as glucose Providers considering or with care if the child is very levels and activities warrant already performing the fingeryoung Children with diabetes stick test must follow univer exercising regularly can participate in all child care sal precautions at all times activities Except for paying For more information on diaattention to their special care betes, please call our toll-free plan, you do not need to treat them differently just Healthline at 1-800-333-3212 or American Diabetes because
they have diabetes Association 1-800-DIABETES The goals for treatment of diabetes in children are to: a Maintain normal growth and development b Keep blood glucose levels within a target range not too high, not too low c Promote healthy emotional well being References American Diabetes Association Assembly Bill AB 221 Chapter 550, Statutes of 1997, Section 1596797 of the Health and Safety Code By A Rahman Zamani, MPH 2/27/98
California Childcare Health Program 1950 Addison St, Suite 107 Berkeley, CA 94704-1182 Telephone 510204-0930 Fax 510204-0931 Healthline 1-800-333-3212 wwwucsfchildcarehealthorg
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California Childcare Health Program
