Working with Children Who Have Diabetes

Working with Children who have

Diabetes

3 Main types of Diabetes:

• Type 1: when the body does not produce enough

insulin or produces no insulin.

• Type 2: when cells do not respond properly to the

insulin the pancreas produces.

• Gestational Diabetes: a form of diabetes that affects

pregnant women.

Signs and symptoms of diabetes

• Being very thirsty.

• Urinating a lot—often at night.

• Having blurry vision from time-to-time.

• Feeling very tired much of the time.

• Losing weight without trying.

• Having very dry skin.

• Having sores that are slow to heal.

• Getting more infections than usual.

• Losing feeling or getting a tingling feeling in the feet.

Children & Diabetes

• Most children with diabetes have type 1.

• Everyone who has type 1 diabetes needs insulin given by injections or an insulin pump

Insulin Injections

If injections are missed or are delayed, a life-threatening condition can result from very high blood sugar and lack of insulin.

High Blood Sugar

• For most people, the

goal blood sugar before

meals is between 80-

130 mg/dl.

• The goal blood sugar for

1-2 hours after meals is

less than 180 mg/dl

What makes blood sugar rise?

• Eating too much food

• Being less active than usual

• Taking too little diabetes medicine

• Having an infection or illness, such as a

cold or the flu

• Experiencing stress

• Changing hormone levels

Low Blood Sugar

In general, a blood sugar reading lower than 70

mg/dl is too low.

What makes blood sugar fall?

• Eating less food or fewer carbs than usual.

• Missing a meal or snack.

• Drinking alcoholic beverages, especially on an

empty stomach.

• Being more active

than usual.

When a child/youth enters custody with diabetes:

• Immediately notify the DCS Regional nurse and Placement staff

• Within 24 hours contact the youth’s endocrinology clinic & request updated individual medical plan.

• If the child changes schools, provide a copy of the individual medical plan to the child’s new school.

• Unless there is a no contact order, ensure the parents are aware of & participate in all endocrinology

Read the statement, then pick Myth or Fact

Myth or Fact?

Diabetes is a serious disease

http://www.stopdiabetes.com/get-the-facts/myths-and-facts.html

MYTH FACT

FACT

FACT: Diabetes causes

more deaths per year than cancer and AIDS Having diabetes nearly your chance of having a attack. The good news is diabetes control can risks for diabetes

http://www.stopdiabetes.com/get-the-facts/myths-and-facts.html

Myth or Fact?

Diabetes is caused by eating

too much sugar

http://www.stopdiabetes.com/get-the-facts/myths-and-facts.html

MYTH FACT

MYTH

Fact: Type 1 diabetes is

caused by genetics and

unknown factors that

trigger its onset; type 2 is

caused by genetics and

lifestyle factors.

http://www.stopdiabetes.com/get-the-facts/myths-and-facts.html

Myth or Fact?

People with type 1 diabetes can’t participate in sports

participate in sports or exercise

http://www.stopdiabetes.com/get-the-facts/myths-and-facts.html

MYTH FACT

MYTH

Fact: They can be

tennis players, climbers, basketball stars, snowboarders—the the limit!

http://www.stopdiabetes.com/get-the-facts/myths-and-facts.html

Help Promote Physical Activity

• It helps to control blood

weight, and blood

• It raises “good”

lowers

“bad” cholesterol.

• It lowers risk for heart

and nerve damage

National Diabetes Association

Learn all you can about diabetes.

• Find out more about State and Nationwide Resources for Diabetic Youth on the DCS webpage: http://www.intranet.tn.gov/chldserv/index.shtml

• Or for more information, call 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636)

• TTY 1-888-232-6348 or visit www.cdc.gov/info

• To order resources, visit www.cdc.gov/diabetes/ndep