This post is written and sponsored by Children’s Mercy Kansas City.
Diabetes is a disease that comes with a lot of misconceptions – one being that it isn’t a disease impacting children. On the contrary, about 1 in 300 children and adolescents will be diagnosed with diabetes in their childhood. While there is some genetic component to the diagnosis, 9 out of 10 kids diagnosed are the first person in their family to get it.
Diabetes is a collection of disorders characterized by high blood sugar. While there are many types of diabetes, the most common are Type 1 and Type 2. In youth specifically, Type 1 is much more commonly diagnosed – around 95% of children and adolescents who receive a diabetes diagnosis are Type 1. These conditions are most diagnosed between ages 2-5, and again around 10-14, but can be found at any age. It is important to note there is nothing anyone did to cause Type 1 diabetes. It’s an autoimmune disorder where the body destroys the cells in the pancreas that create the insulin needed to use sugars for energy.
If your child has received a diabetes diagnosis, you likely know the signs when their blood sugars are not where they should be. But what if your child has a friend with diabetes? Or you have a niece or nephew who was recently diagnosed? Having a child in your care with diabetes can seem scary at first, but with a little preparation, you can easily keep them safe!
What can cause a child with Type 1 diabetes to have low blood sugar?
Often, low blood sugar (also known as hypoglycemia) is caused by a miscalculation of an insulin dose. There is a lot of math associated with diabetes, so if a child takes too much insulin in relation to what they’ve eaten, this can cause their blood sugars to fluctuate quickly.
An increase in activity – think kid-favorite activities like swimming, running, jumping on the trampoline – without eating more or adjusting medication can also impact blood sugars.
What does it look like if a child is having issues with their blood sugar?
There are 2 categories of hypoglycemia – early and acute.
Early warning signs may include:
- Shakiness
- Jitters
- Lethargy
- Dizziness
- Hunger
- Nausea
- Irritability
Acute or severe warning signs may include loss of consciousness or even seizures.
If a child in your care diagnosed with diabetes shows any of the early warning signs, it’s important to act quickly to avoid any more severe reactions.
What should I do if I suspect a child is experiencing low blood sugar?
Children with diabetes often wear continuous glucose monitors, which update every 5 minutes to show where the blood sugar currently is and to predict where blood sugars are headed – and they often alert before the child is hypoglycemic. If a child is showing signs of hypoglycemia, provide them with a fast-acting carbohydrate like Skittles, fruit juice or soda that will bring blood sugars back up very quickly.
If the child is unresponsive and unable to swallow, you can administer an emergency rescue drug – Glucagon – but it’s important to get instructions from the child’s caregiver in advance so you know how to appropriately administer the medication.
How to keep a child with diabetes safe in your care?
Again, a little preparation goes a long way! If the child is prone to activity-based low blood sugar, make sure to give them a snack before the playing begins. Depending on the technology, their insulin pump may also have different levels that are automatically adjusted for activity to help prevent any low blood sugar.
Other than that, learning about the disease, its warning signs and knowing what actions to take are the best steps to keep them safe! Click here to learn more about diabetes or to find an endocrinologist to treat your child.
