The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International's website reports that more than 15,000 children become diagnosed with type 1 diabetes every year in the United States. Type 1 diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes, attacks the body's immune system destroying the cells of the pancreas that produce insulin. Insulin stores eventually become depleted. Without proper treatment, blood glucose begins to damage the body's organs. Children have more options than ever for treating type 1 diabetes.
Blood Sugar Monitoring
Children with type 1 diabetes will need to check and record blood sugar often. This requires frequent finger sticks. Doctors will give patients a range within which the blood sugar should fall and may ask for a recording of the numbers to look over later. Newer glucose monitors allow for downloading straight from the device. A new treatment option continuous glucose monitoring, CGM, allows patients to supplement their standard blood glucose readings with a machine that continuously checks blood sugar every few minutes. A small needle inserted just under the skin records blood sugar continuously throughout the day. Less accurate than traditional finger sticks, physicians recommend this only as a supplement to traditional testing, not as a replacement.
Insulin
Type 1 diabetes requires treatment with insulin. Stomach enzymes interfere with the body's ability to process insulin by mouth leaving injections the only option. There are many different types of insulin. Insulin may be long- or short-acting, rapid acting or intermediate acting. A doctor will choose the best type of insulin based on a child's age and individual needs. Children may also have the option of an insulin pump. With an insulin pump, a small tube connects to a catheter inserted under the skin of the abdomen. The programmed pumps deliver specific amounts of insulin automatically allowing for adjustments on meals activity and blood sugar level.
Diet
Diet is important to all diabetics but especially so in type 1 diabetics. This does not mean a lifetime of eating salads while everybody else eats cake. It is important for children to feel that they are able to eat what others do in order to fit in. Diabetic children, like all children, should have sugar occasionally and in moderation. Diabetics should eat plenty of vegetables, fruits and whole grains. These foods have high nutritional value and help to stabilize blood sugar. This diet will have health benefits for the entire family.
Exercise
Children with type 1 diabetes should get plenty of exercise. Finding an activity that interests a child will give them the best chance at sticking with it. Exercising will affect blood sugar and children starting new activities should check their blood sugars frequently until it becomes apparent how the child will react to the new activity. It may be necessary to adjust insulin or meals to accommodate the increased activity.
