Managing Diabetes in Your Child

Because young children often struggle to recognize the symptoms of their diabetes it is crucial that you, as a parent, help them to understand their condition and that you conduct frequent blood glucose checks.

But management does not end there as your child’s emotional and physical well being is particularly at risk if they are diabetic. School life has been touched upon elsewhere in this blog, so here we will concentrate on your child’s life outside of the education system.

Often the families of children with diabetes worry that they will be excluded from activities or made to feel awkward and embarrassed by their condition. However, an open attitude and frank discussion with their friends will frequently result in exactly the opposite. Indeed, research shows that peer groups will often value your child and readily accept them just the way they are, if they are honest about the disease, while a secretive attitude can lead to resentment and exclusion.

Talk with your doctor and other health professionals, they will often be able to counsel your child on managing their diabetes, and advise them on how best to cope with their feelings of being different. A healthy social life is important to your child, not just for their psychological well being but also for them to lead a physically active and rewarding life.

Remember, exercise is a vital part of managing their condition and there is no reason why your child should not participate in sports and other social activities such as hiking and camping. They will help him or her to maintain a healthy insulin balance and lower blood sugar levels.

There is absolutely no reason for diabetes to impact on your child’s potential for success in both social integration and sporting achievement. Provided with the correct knowledge and tools to participate your child will develop the self-esteem, confidence and other positive effects of a normal physical life.

Children’s Party Planning for the Diabetic Child

When a child has diabetes, there are many experiences that they miss out on.  Halloween for the diabetic child, means collecting a bag of treats they will not get to enjoy.  Playing at a friend’s house entails heading home for medication or a shot, and having to say no to sweet snacks if they are offered.  Class parties can leave a child feeling left out when sugary treats are being served and a birthday party without cake and ice cream seems dismal.

If you have a child that has been diagnosed with diabetes, there are ways to make their birthday special.  With a little preplanning a birthday party for a diabetic child can be lots of fun for everyone.

As your child’s party approaches, make sure that they are eating carefully and doing everything they can to keep their blood sugar levels in check.  The excitement of the day can change their appetite and not eating can wreak havoc on blood sugar.  Make sure that on the day of the party, your child eats a good breakfast and has a snack before everyone arrives. Make sure that they are well rested the night before their party and if at all possible, have your child take a short rest or nap the day of their party.

If it is too hard to plan a menu that your child can eat and the other guests will enjoy, simply plan to have your party in the afternoon, so guests won’t be expecting you to serve them lunch or dinner.  If you are serving food, make sure that there are lots of healthy things to eat, served in fun ways. Put out trays of vegetables instead of chips with dip, or crackers and cheese. Many children will appreciate the healthy fare over the sugary foods that are often served at children’s birthday parties.

Instead of giving sweets as party favors, give out little toys.  Make the main focus of your party fun activities and no one will miss the fact that there aren’t an abundance of sweet snacks everywhere. Some fun activities include party games, crafts, scavenger hunts, or even playing outside.  If you don’t want to plan these types of activities, host your child’s party at a skating rink or play park.  The kids will be so busy, that a lack of snacks won’t bother them.

It is hard to avoid a birthday cake at a party. If your child’s diabetes is under control, a small piece probably won’t hurt them.  Most diabetics are allowed to have angel food cake, so serving this delicious confection is always an option. You can top it with sugar free fruit pie filling or even sugar free candies.  You can even check with your bakery and see if they have a diabetic friendly recipe for birthday cake. 

The best thing you can do to make your child feel special on their birthday is to make the day as normal as possible.  Don’t make your child eat sugar free cake while the guests get a sugar sweetened variety.  Don’t make a big deal over the fact that the cake is sugar free.  Most of your guests will probably not even notice.  Just have fun, keep an eye on your child, and congratulate yourself on another year of successfully controlling your little one’s diabetes.