How the Whole Family Can Cope With Diabetes in Children


by Brent McNutt - Date: 2010-05-29 - Word Count: 499 Share This!

Diabetes is a very serious disease. Managing this disease for adults is difficult enough, what more if a child is diagnosed of having the said disease. For parents, it will definitely be a challenge to find out that their little one has diabetes, and to ensure that the child eats the right food and does not do anything to worsen the condition.

When a child is found to have diabetes, it is the parent's obligation to manage the child's diet and lifestyle. It is also the parent's responsibility to make sure that the child is not emotionally affected by having diabetes. The child has to understand why he cannot eat the same food that his peers eat or engage in similar activities that his peers do. This can be very stressful for a child and the parents have to make sure that they are always there for their child to help him understand his special condition.

How can a parent determine if his child is suffering from diabetes? The symptoms of diabetes in adults are very similar to what the child would feel or experience. If the parent observes constant fatigue and tiredness, weight loss, frequent urination, constant thirst, headaches and stomach aches, then it would be best to consult a doctor immediately. Diabetes is not life threatening in itself, but may lead to fatal complications if not addressed right away.

If a child is diagnosed with diabetes, the first thing that the parents should take care of is the child's diet and eating habits. Diabetes causes the blood sugar levels to be erratic; it can be very low today and suddenly spike up the next day. Modifying the child's diet to include fruits and vegetables will greatly help in lowering blood sugar levels. But if the child's blood sugar level becomes very low, parents should always have something sweet handy to be able to address the situation right away.

Encouraging the child to exercise will also help to improve the situation. Most children nowadays are contented to just sit all day and spend time watching the TV or playing video games. Exercise will help a lot in stabilizing the blood sugar levels in the body. One way to encourage a child to exercise is to enroll him in a sports club where he can choose a game of his choice and spend enjoyable time with other kids.

Regular check-ups are also a crucial part of a diabetic child's life. There should be regular monitoring to ensure that diabetes and the child's blood sugar levels are properly monitored, and proper medications are also given to help alleviate the situation.

Having a child with diabetes can definitely affect not just the child, but the whole family. Both the child and the parents will really have a tough time dealing with the situation; but if the child's condition is regularly monitored, and if the parents are strict enough to help the child do what's right for him, then the situation could be a little easier for everyone.


Brent McNutt enjoys networking with healthcare professionals online. He also likes talking about Urbane Scrubs and Landau Shoes and also likes writing articles about various topics.n
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