Did you know that a child diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of five, by Diabetes is a lifelong disease that develops when the pancreas stops producing …
Courtney Lindley March 24, 2004 JOMC 050 A Parental Guide for Clinically Managing Children with Diabetes Did you know that a child diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of five, by the time they are 18, will have endured at least 18, 980 finger pokes? Children with Diabetes Foundation Daily life is different for children diagnosed with juvenile diabetes, also known as type 1 diabetes Giving attention to diet, monitoring blood sugar levels, taking insulin, and handling high and low blood sugar levels become apart of daily life for a child with diabetes Type 1 Diabetes My cousin Seth was recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes Seth is only two years old, but has already begun a life-long process of daily insulin shots and a regulated diet Before he was diagnosed, Seth began experiencing some common symptoms for the disease including, lethargy and unconsciousness What is Type 1 diabetes? Diabetes is a lifelong disease that develops when the pancreas stops producing insulin to control the amount of sugar in the blood Insulin is a hormone that lets sugar glucose move from the body into the bodys cells, where it can be used for energy or stored for later use Type 1 Diabetes Type 1
diabetes develops when insulinproducing cells in the pancreas are destroyed by the bodys own immune system Does Infant Diet Increase The Risk of Diabetes? Type 1 diabetes can occur in children of any age Type 1 diabetes usually develops in children or in young adults under age 30 International Diabetes Center
Lindley 2 Symptoms can develop within hours or a few days, and are first noticed after an illness like the flu Type 1 Diabetes Other common symptoms include: frequent urination, extreme thirst, increased hunger, and weight loss Type 1 Diabetes Other warning signs include drowsiness or lethargy, heavy labored breathing, and stupor or unconsciousness Diabetes and Diet 62 Detecting these symptoms early can decrease the chance of having complications from diabetes later in life Caring for a child with diabetes As any parent knows, raising kids is not easy Parents of children with type 1, or insulin-dependent formerly called juvenile diabetes, face all the usual challenges of child-rearing plus the unique issues that come with their childs disease Even the simplest activities, like birthday parties or playing ball, can be stressful if they are not carefully planned Parnes
According to the International Diabetes Center, a personalized care plan is suggested to fit into the life and schedule of a child with diabetes Carbohydrates counting a method of food planning and a variety of insulin regimens help make good blood glucose control attainable International Diabetes Center Children with diabetes can enjoy some of the same activities and foods as other children do For instance, sleepovers, sports, vacations, and fast foods do not have to be eliminated for children with diabetes International Diabetes Center Children with diabetes do live healthy and happy lives However, it can be complicated and adjusting to changes can be difficult
Lindley 3 Fortunately, there are camps and educational or support groups to help children learn how to have an active role in their own care This also enables children to meet others living with diabetes Personal Perspectives from Clinical Management of the Child and Teenager with Diabetes: How old were you when you got diabetes, and what are your first memories of it? Ellen: I was 14 months old, so I dont remember much Probably the first thing I remember was when I was at Camp Glyndon [a camp in Maryland for children
with diabetes] and I need to give myself my first shot without an injector I was about 6 or 7 Plotnick 202 Living with Diabetes Stephanie: I was 11, and it was only six months ago I was really thirsty for three days, and then I went to the doctor My first thought when I found out I had diabetes was that I didnt want to give myself shots I was scared of it Plotnick 202 There are few- if any- other diseases that require the intensity of selfmanagement that type 1 diabetes demands Plotnick 6 The disease should be managed in the home by children and parents and includes five survival skills for taking care of the disease:
giving and preparing for insulin monitoring blood glucose and urine ketones, and record keeping food management, including meal plans exercise management management of acute problems, especially hypoglycempia low blood sugar
Lindley 4 Plotnick 32 This may seem like a strenuous process but the results are worth it Not taking care of diabetes can cause problems including hyperglycemia, a strain on the body that can cause complications later such as, nerve damage, damage to the eyes, kidney disease, and heart disease which is more common in people with diabetes
American Diabetes Association An Eating Plan Diabetes is not caused by eating too much A child can have all of their favorite sweets as long as they are scheduled into an eating plan Diabetes and Diet 62 A food plan can serve as a guide to making decisions about food and timing of meals or snacks International Diabetes Center According to the International Diabetes Center, a food plan should reflect the individuals health needs and how they like to eat Contrary to popular belief, there is no strict diabetes diet International Diabetes Center The International Diabetes Center suggests that any person suffering with diabetes should consult a dietitian or other diabetes health care provider to create a food plan that fits your lifestyle Because carbohydrates are the main nutrient that affects blood glucose levels, food plans are focused on carbohydrate foods International Diabetes Center Children who take insulin, however, do need to determine how much they are going to eat at a given meal and must balance their carbohydrate intake with the amount of insulin injected Parnes A good plan should revolve around a childs class, lunch, gym and afternoon activity schedule Parnes The American
Diabetes Association offers a virtual grocery store of recipes and nutritional information on their website: http://vgsdiabetesorg/recipe/indexjsp
Lindley 5 Insulin Shots Because children with type 1 diabetes cannot produce insulin on their own, they must receive insulin injections Each child is different; therefore doctors usually schedule how a child receives insulin on a daily basis Most children need no less than two, and sometimes three or more shots a day are needed Parnes Some children may be able to use an insulin pump, which delivers a continuous flow of insulin to the body and usually eliminates the need for daily insulin injections Parnes In order for insulin shots to become a part of a comfortable daily routine for a child, experts suggest allowing them to participate in care to the level appropriate This allows the child to gain independence and to assume responsibility for the disease when he/she is an adult Type 1 Diabetes Organizations That Care Several organizations are involved with finding a cure to type 1 diabetes and assisting parents and children with helpful information in order to manage the disease Children with diabetes foundation wwwcwdfoundationorg was
founded by a group of mostly parents of children with diabetes, who want a cure for diabetes Children with Diabetes Foundation They are 100 volunteer run, and almost all money donated goes directly to research and the commitment for finding a cure Children with Diabetes Foundation Another major organization is the American Diabetes Association ADA which funds peer-reviewed projects aimed at preventing, treating and curing all types of diabetes American Diabetes Association Their projects include areas such as
Lindley 6 genetics, islet cell biology, immunology, diabetes education and behavioral research American Diabetes Association Research is ongoing into the prevention and/or cure for diabetes Research is mostly funded by the government and donor grants Various scientific avenues are pursued each year in the quest for a cure for type 1 diabetes One in every 400 to 500 children and adolescents has type 1 diabetes There are about 206,000 people under 20 years of age that have diabetes, which represents 25 of all people in this age group Diabetes is on the rise in young children Type 1 diabetes has increased dramatically over the past 50 years Every day, 35 children in America are
diagnosed with type 1 diabetes Center for Disease Control and Prevention Its important for the government to continue working with diabetes research organizations, so that a cure can be found or treatment can improve Its sad to think that by the time my cousin is 50 he will have had received over 50,000 insulin shots
Source:unc.edu
