Your Child has Diabetes pamphlet (628)

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C hildren need energy Children need lots of energy to grow and be active. This energy comes from food. Once inside the body, food is changed into glucose. Then it goes into the blood and is carried to the cells of the body. Insulin is a hormone that opens the cells to allow the glucose inside. Insulin is made in the pancreas (a gland near the stomach). There are certain cells in the pancreas called beta cells. These cells release insulin into the bloodstream to help glucose get into the body’s cells. With diabetes, the body either does not make insulin, does not make enough insulin or the cells can’t use insulin the way they should. When there is not enough insulin, the cells don’t open up to use the glucose.

Type-1 Diabetes

Type-2 Diabetes

With type-1 diabetes, the beta cells in the pancreas make little or no insulin. This means there is not enough insulin to help blood glucose (sugar) get into the cells. The extra blood glucose stays in the blood and does not get used. Instead, it is dumped into the urine and the body gets rid of it. This can rob a child of energy and starve the body because the cells can’t get blood glucose. Because of this, children with type-1 have to inject insulin to help move glucose into the cells.

With type-2 diabetes, the body makes insulin, but it doesn’t make enough or the cells can’t use it the way they should. Type-2 diabetes is much more common than type-1. Especially in older people. Type-2 diabetes in children may be caused by:

You may wonder what caused your child to get diabetes. There is no known cause. But it is thought that one or more of these have something to do with it: • a virus attacking the pancreas • problems with the body’s self defense system (auto- immune response) that damage the beta cells in the pancreas • a family history of diabetes

• being overweight (can be caused by eating lots of fast food and “junk” food) • lack of activity and regular exercise Some children with type-2 diabetes have to inject insulin. But some can control it by: • eating healthy meals • exercising daily • taking medicines (oral agents) • losing weight (some children who lose weight don’t need to take medicines)

Diabetes from a child’s point of view Children often see things in a different way than adults. Young children who have diabetes may think: • they “caught” diabetes from someone else • they will die because diabetes begins with “die” • diabetes is a punishment for something they did

M anaging diabetes For now, diabetes can’t be cured. But it can be managed. Learning how to manage diabetes is vital to your child’s growth and develoment. It can also help him or her develop good habits for the future. Keeping a balance between food and stress will help keep your child’s diabetes in check. Checking your child’s blood glucose will help you know if his or her management plan is working.

Management team When you learned your child has diabetes, you may have felt that you would have to deal with it on your own. That is not the case. Your child’s diabetes management team can help you. They will work closely to get your child’s diabetes under control. A Pediatrician is your child’s doctor who you see for check ups or when you are sick. A Pediatric Endocrinologist/ Diabetologist is a doctor specially trained to work with children who have diabetes. A Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) or a Nurse Educator is a person who teaches you and your child all about diabetes and how to manage it. A Registered Dietitian (RD) is a person who will help you and your child plan meals and make healthy food choices. An Ophthalmologist is a doctor who specializes in diseases of the eyes. If diabetes is not managed, it can cause problems with the eyes. A Podiatrist is a doctor who specializes in care for the feet. If not managed, diabetes can cause problems with the feet. A Social Worker (SW) is a person who specializes in finding and giving information on diabetes related services.

E ating healthy A healthy meal plan for a child with diabetes is almost the same as a healthy meal plan for a child who doesn’t have diabetes. This means your child can enjoy a variety of foods. To have enough energy to grow and develop, a child’s meal plan needs the right mix of fats, proteins, carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins and minerals. Avoiding a meal plan high in fat, salt, cholesterol and sugar is also important. Work with a dietitian to come up with a healthy meal plan that your child will enjoy.

C reate your plate Using a small dinner plate (no more than 9 inches) divide your child’s plate into halves, then divide one half into quarters. You will end up with 3 sections:

• 3 oz of meat = a deck of playing cards

• A scoop of ice cream = 1 ⁄2 cup

• One of the smaller sections is for protein. • The last section is for starches. Add a serving of fruit or a glass of milk or both if your meal plan allows.

Here are serving size guidelines:

• 1 slice of bread = a CD case

• The largest section should be non-starchy vegetables.

Meal Planning Try to involve your child in meal planning. The amount of planning depends on your child. An older child may be able to plan all of his or her meals everyday. Younger children may not be ready for this. They may also be picky eaters. So offer them a few different choices at mealtime and let them choose.

Serving Sizes

milk

• One ounce serving of cheese = a pair of dice The more active your child is, the more calories he needs. AND

starches

The less active your child is, the fewer calories are needed.

non-starchy vegetables proteins

My child needs _______________ calories per day.


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