Diabetes Health Center

The goal of your child's treatment for type 1 diabetes is to always keep his or her blood sugar levels within a target range. A target range reduces the chance of diabetes complications. Daily diabetes care and regular medical checkups will help you and your child accomplish this goal.

Daily care

Your child's daily care includes:

• Exercise. Experts recommend that teens and children (starting at age 6) do moderate to vigorous activity at least 1 hour every day.¹
• Home blood sugar monitoring.

  Diabetes in Children: Checking Blood Sugar in a Child

• Preparing and giving insulin injections.

  Diabetes in Children: Giving Insulin Shots to a Child

• Living with an insulin pump.

  Diabetes: Living With an Insulin Pump

• Counting carbohydrate.

  Diabetes: Counting Carbs if You Use Insulin

• Dealing with low blood sugar levels.

  Diabetes in Children: Preventing Low Blood Sugar

• Preventing high blood sugar levels.

  Diabetes in Children: Preventing High Blood Sugar

Some problems you may encounter include:

• Changing appetite and "picky eating." A registered dietitian can help you develop a flexible meal plan to meet your child's appetite needs and allow for special events, such as parties and school activities. If you use rapid-acting insulin, you can give the insulin dose after a meal based on what your child ate. Some tips for mealtimes with young children include having alternative meal choices.
• Illness. Follow the sick-day guidelines that you and your child's doctor set up to prevent high blood sugar emergencies when your child is ill. Talk with the doctor before giving your child any nonprescription medicine.
• Exercise. If your child is not very active, limit his or her time playing video games, watching TV, or using the computer. Plan some activities to do along with your child, such as in-line skating or bicycling. Keep your child safe during exercise by:
  • Checking his or her blood sugar levels before and after vigorous activity.
  • Having a quick-sugar food on hand at all times.
  • Giving the coach a copy of the symptoms of low blood sugar and instructions about what to do if it occurs.

You will also want to:

• Always have your child wear medical identification to let medical personnel know that he or she has diabetes. You can buy medical identification bracelets , necklaces, or other forms of jewelry at a pharmacy or on the Internet.
• Have your child wear shoes that fit properly. Use the checklist for foot exams to check your child's feet if he or she has signs of injury or infection. Teach your child how to wash and dry his or her feet thoroughly. If you notice a foot problem, even a minor one, talk with your child's doctor before treating it.
• Keep your child's day care or school plan for diabetes care up to date. Have written instructions for your babysitter and other caregivers.

  Diabetes in Children: Preparing a Care Plan for School

• Help your child care for his or her skin and teeth and gums. Make sure your child has a dental checkup every 6 months.
• Keep your child's immunizations up to date. This includes a flu shot every year. For more information and a form for recording your child's immunizations, see the topic Immunizations.
• Participate in a support group for parents of children with diabetes. These groups can be very helpful, especially the first few years after diagnosis. Local groups are available in most areas.
• Encourage your child to attend camps for children with diabetes. Diabetes camps are a good learning experience for your child, and they will allow you some time to yourself.
• Allow your child with diabetes to help with the treatment, given his or her age and experience with the disease.

Regular medical checkups