Special Considerations

No matter how hard you try, there are going to be times when you just can't be in control of your child's health - either because you have to entrust care to another adult, or because in spite of your best attempts, blood sugar just doesn't respond in predictable ways.

One of the best pieces of advice you can take? No child is too young to wear a medical ID bracelet or necklace. There are a lot of different styles available - ask your pharmacist or diabetes educator for suggestions.

Babysitters and Family Care

Whether it's work, family commitments, or because you need a little time to yourself, eventually you're going to want to engage the help of a competent babysitter. This can be tough emotionally (more for you than the child), but if you plan for it properly you can leave your child in another person's hands with confidence.

You may have a family member or friend who is ready to take on the responsibilities of blood sugar management for a few hours. Spend some time educating them in advance about how to administer a blood test, provide insulin, and handle a blood sugar low. Then have them "babysit" once while you're home - a dry run to make everyone feel more comfortable.

Make sure your babysitter has all the information you use, including schedules for eating, testing, and medications, as well as phone numbers for you and your doctor. Our printable guide makes it easy to remember all the details.

Finally, if you're having trouble finding a qualified babysitter, ask around. Talk to other parents in a diabetes support group. Ask your doctor about teenage patients who know the ropes and might be interested in sitting. Or ask your local nursing school or American Diabetes Association chapter for a referral.

Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia)

When your child hasn't had enough to eat, has eaten later than expected, has been especially active, or has an infection - or sometimes for no apparent reason - their blood sugar can fall too low. This is what people used to call an "insulin reaction." Today, it's more likely to be called " hypoglycemia" or "a low." Everyone is different, so your doctor will give you guidelines on what blood sugar level constitutes a low for your child.

As your child gets older, they'll be able to let you know when they're feeling "low." In the meantime, you'll need to watch for signs of sleepiness, fussiness, unexplained or unusual crying, paleness, clammy skin, or personality changes. Any of these can be a sign that their blood sugar is falling and it's time for a blood test.

If the test shows that your child's blood sugar is low, try getting them to take two to four ounces of fruit juice, glucose tabs, or two tablespoons of jelly, corn syrup, or prepared cake frosting from a tube (for other health reasons, honey is not recommended for children under 12 months). You may also want to keep a tube of glucose gel or paste on hand - just remember not to try to give tablets or hard candies to small children.

When blood sugar is falling, act quickly. If blood sugar drops too low, your child can have a seizure or lose consciousness. Have a healthcare professional show you how to administer a glucagon injection in an emergency, and keep some at home. This hormone stimulates the liver to release stored blood sugar quickly.

Sick Days

Ear infections, colds, cutting new teeth - they're all part of growing up. But when your child has diabetes, these stressful events can make it harder to keep blood sugar under control. Why? Stress hormones released when we're ill can raise blood sugar. Plus, it can be harder to eat normally. Vomiting and dehydration further complicate the situation.

Make sure you have a specific sick day plan worked out with your doctor in advance. Since you never want to stop insulin injections, even if your child isn't eating, you'll need to know what steps to take to keep their blood sugar in control. Frequent testing will help you monitor blood sugar levels. If your child is too sick to eat or can't keep solid foods down, they can get the necessary carbohydrates from ginger ale, non-diet soda, juice, ice pops, or gelatin. If they can't eat at all, just sipping small amounts of these foods hourly will help.