The start of a new school year is both exciting and challenging, especially for parents of children with diabetes. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the immune system attacks the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, requiring regular blood sugar checks. With the right care and tools, your child can lead a normal, healthy life. To ensure their safety and health at school, it's crucial to prepare, communicate with school staff, and have the necessary supplies ready.
Dr. Anjana Hulse, Pediatric Endocrinologist, Hulse Clinic, Bangalore, said, “Incorporating a regular routine and physical activity into the daily routine of a child with Type 1 diabetes is important for their health and well-being. For parents, integrating structured measures such as diet, exercise and continuous monitoring can positively impact their child’s blood sugar control. It also enhances their insulin sensitivity and support a healthier lifestyle. Helping a child navigate their diabetes journey can be made hassle-free by embracing advancements that help simplify diabetes management. For instance, parents can utilize continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices, measuring glucose levels all day and night. These offer real-time data on how blood sugar levels respond to factors like meals, physical activity, and insulin doses.”
One of the most significant advantages of CGM technology is the stress relief it offers parents. With real-time hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia alerts sent directly to their phones, parents no longer have to constantly worry about their child’s glucose levels while they are at school. The connected care aspect of CGM devices allows healthcare providers and caregivers to access shared data, ensuring a collaborative approach to diabetes management. This not only enhances safety but also provides reassurance that any potential issues can be addressed immediately, giving parents peace of mind.
Dr. Kenneth Lee, Director, Medical Affairs, Diabetes Division, Abbott, said, “It is difficult to manage diabetes, especially for a child. In cases like these, parents play a crucial role in caring for them. For the ease of managing diabetes and enabling families to cope, technology-driven progress such as continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices can provide immense benefits. Unlike older CGM blinded technologies, which only provided retrospective data, advanced CGMs offer real-time, actionable insights that allow parents and children to respond to fluctuations immediately. With seamless smartphone integration, parents can remotely track their child’s glucose trends and receive alerts about unexpected highs or lows, helping them make timely adjustments. This level of data-driven feedback ensures better glucose management and a smoother school experience.”
Here are five must-know tips to help ease your concerns and support your child’s diabetes management.
Check blood sugar regularly: Parents should check the glucose levels of their kids before they go to school. Monitoring helps in determining the next dosage of insulin to be taken. You can do this easily with continuous glucose monitoring devices. With its connected care capabilities, parents can remotely monitor readings via a smartphone app, ensuring their child stays within the target range (70–180 mg/dL). The data insights also help recognize patterns influenced by stress, diet, or exercise, enabling better decision-making.
Finding enjoyable activities to exercise: The easiest way to keep children active is to find exercises they enjoy. Joining a team activity is a good idea. Activities like bike riding, dancing, playing cricket, or games like kho kho or kabaddi with family and friends are also great. To avoid isolation, involve the whole family. It's a fun way to spend time together and stay fit. Make sure they get enough sleep too, as rest is important for children with Type 1 diabetes.
Teach Stress Management and Self-Care: School life comes with academic and social pressures, which can impact blood glucose levels. Encourage your child to recognize signs of stress, and take breaks when needed. Whether it’s reading, journaling, or socializing with friends, self-care plays a crucial role in overall diabetes management.
Keep a diabetes journal: It is important to understand how your child's sugar levels react to different foods and activities. Document their blood glucose levels, the food they eat, and the exercises they engage in, with time stamps. This way, you'll be able to adapt the plans based on what's working and what's not, whether that means switching up snack time or rescheduling a morning jog or an evening walk. Always consult a doctor before making changes to your child's regimen or in case you have questions.
Encourage Smart Meal Planning: School lunches and unpredictable schedules can make meal management tricky. Help your child learn to identify balanced meals and understand how different foods impact their glucose.
Managing diabetes for children is a team effort. With these handy tips, you can help them stay active while ensuring that their blood sugar levels are at bay.
Links:
https://www.abbott.com/corpnewsroom/nutrition-health-and-wellness/kids-back-to-school-our-tech-can-help-ease-your-mind.html
https://www.abbott.com/corpnewsroom/diabetes-care/taking-diabetes-treatment-to-college.html
https://www.abbott.com/corpnewsroom/diabetes-care/4-ways-to-keep-kids-with-diabetes-healthy-and-active.html
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