Children as young as 2 to 3 years old are diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Management of your child’s diabetes calls for a team approach and extra planning for special dietary and medication considerations. November is National Diabetes Month and a good opportunity to be aware of the ways health care providers can assist you and your loved one with this disease.

According to the American Diabetes Association, Type 1 diabetes, when diagnosed in children and young adults, is known as juvenile diabetes. This disease occurs when the body is unable to produce insulin, a hormone needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy. Therefore, insulin replacement therapy is needed to help the body utilize these energy sources. With the help of insulin therapy and other treatments, children with type 1 diabetes can learn to manage their condition and live long, healthy, happy lives.

In addition to your pediatrician, who will diagnose the disease and a dietician to recommend the right foods, your local pharmacist can help with strategies and the right products to keep your child’s blood sugar at a healthy level.

Insulin is used to keep your child’s blood sugar at normal levels. There are times when blood sugars can become too low; this is known as hypoglycemia. Signs and symptoms are shakiness, sweating or chills, confusion, lightheadedness, hunger or nausea. Severe hypoglycemia has the potential to cause injuries, coma, and even death. This is why it is important to always be prepared in case of emergencies. For mild to moderate symptoms, orange juice or over-the-counter glucose tablets are good to bring blood sugar levels up. For more severe cases, your doctor can prescribe a glucagon kit that can quickly reverse low blood sugar. Speak with your child’s physician and pharmacist about whether you should have one on hand, and how and when to use it.

When your child is at school or away from home, others will need to help coordinate diabetes care. They should know the signs of low blood glucose and know what to do in an emergency. Babysitters, teachers, extended family, or other caregivers should also be trained on the basics of diabetes care.

If your child is sick, he or she is likely to need extra insulin and may need to check blood glucose levels more frequently. Other recommendations include drinking lots of clear liquids and continuing to take regular medications. Drug companies offer sugar-free preparations of some medications that are good options for children with diabetes. Ask your pharmacist about the sugar-free versions of medications your child may take for cold or fever.

Always refer to your health care providers, such as your pharmacist, to answer any questions or concerns you may have regarding the management of your child’s diabetes. Pharmacists are medication experts, easily accessible, and can become a key player in the team approach to diabetes care and management.

Bonding Over Books Is Sweet!

No matter what children and families are dealing with, open dialogue and sharing of feelings really helps.  Books are a great way for caregivers, parents, and kids to connect. You can focus on what the book is saying while also sharing thoughts and emotions as they relate to the story. Bonding time over books draws families closer while learning something beneficial at the same time.

Check out some of these great books for kids who have Type 1 Diabetes.

  • “How Many Carbs is a Booger?” by Richard and Rania Morrill
  • “487 Really Cool Tips for Kids with Diabetes” by Spike Naysmith Loy
  • “How I Feel:  A Book about Diabetes” by Michael Olson
  • “The Great Katie Kate Discusses Diabetes” by M. Maitland DeLand, M.D.