Parenting

Caring for a child with diabetes can be challenging. You play an important role in your child's diabetes management.

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Participate in support groups and take advantage of all of the diabetes resources available to you. Educate yourself, your family members, friends and caregivers about diabetes. By educating yourself and others, you can help your child lead a normal and healthy life.

School, Daycare, and Babysitters

Sending your child to school, daycare, or having a babysitter can be stressful. It is important for you to communicate with childcare providers in order to ensure your child receives appropriate diabetes care while they are away from you.

1. Develop a Diabetes Medical Management Plan (DMMP) with the help of your child's diabetes care team, and the school or daycare provider that provides specific instructions for each of the following:
   • Blood glucose monitoring, including frequency and additional circumstances in which monitoring may be required
   • Insulin administration, including dosing, injection times, possible sliding scales, and storage
   • Meals and snacks, specifying food content, amounts, and timing
   • Symptoms and treatment of both high and low blood glucose
   • Administration of glucagon, if recommended
   • Ketone testing and appropriate follow-up care if ketones are abnormal
   • Participation in physical activity
   • Emergency contact information
2. Be sure an adequate number of personnel (they need not be a healthcare professional) are trained in diabetes care and in the treatment of high and low blood glucose levels. This is also important so that your child has timely access to care while engaging in extracurricular activities, and while participating in any school-related activity (including transportation provided by the school).
3. Provide the facility with adequate supplies, equipment, and information necessary for your child's care (e.g., medications, blood glucose testing supplies, snacks, etc.)
4. If age appropriate, the student with diabetes should have immediate access to supplies at all times. They should be able to self-manage at any time.

American Diabetes Association. Care of Children With Diabetes in the School and Day Care. Clinical Practice Recommendations 2010. Diabetes Care 2010;33(Suppl 1): S70-S72

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Sports and Exercise

Sporting activities are a great way for all children to increase their level of physical activity and interact with their peers. Encourage your child to be active and to participate in sports or other exercise activities.

Be sure to keep the following points in mind:

• Meals and insulin doses and schedules may need to be adjusted in conjunction with activity times
• Your child should always carry a snack such as pretzels or crackers with peanut butter. In addition, your child should always carry a quick-acting glucose source such as glucose tablets.

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Diabetes Camps

Diabetes camps provide a safe environment for children to share their experiences with one another and learn to better care for their diabetes. The staff members are trained in diabetes care and are able to adjust your child's diabetes care plan as needed.

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) provides diabetes camps in most states. For more information, visit our resource section.

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Additional organizations also provide diabetes camps throughout the country. Information on many of these can be found in our resource section.

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