Child diabetes is a serious disease even though it can be controlled through the use of medication, insulin or healthy lifestyle choices.
There are so many different side-effects to child diabetes and child diabetes care is very important to every diabetic person out there who has to live with this disease each and every day.
Special Child diabetes Care
To begin with it is extremely important that a person, who is diabetic, monitor their blood glucose levels on a regular basis. This usually means several times throughout the day. Usually the best times to monitor your levels are at meal times and before bed time at night.
By keeping an accurate account of your blood glucose levels, you will be able to narrow down what works best for you and what does not and you will be able to keep your blood glucose levels at a healthy level.
Normally the scale is 80 to120. If your levels are higher than this, depending upon what type of child diabetes you have, you may need to take insulin to lower your levels. If your blood glucose level is below 80, you will need to eat a carbohydrate and a protein to ensure that your levels will rise (caused by the carbohydrate) and stay there (caused by the protein). If you find that your blood glucose levels fluctuate out of control, you may need to change your diet or your medication or even your insulin scale. This is why monitoring your blood glucose levels on a regular basis is extremely important.
As a diabetic, you will want to get an annual eye exam. Diabetic retinopathy is a serious condition that if not controlled can lead to blindness. Usually a result of out of control blood glucose levels, diabetic retinopathy is where tiny blood vessels in the eye burst. Inform the Ophthalmologist that you are a diabetic and they can keep accurate records to refer to each year to see exactly how your eyes have changed.
Circulation, especially in the extremities, is another serious problem in diabetics. Making sure that you have good circulation to your legs and feet is extremely important. There are special diabetic shoes and socks that can help aid you in this process. Make sure that you keep a close eye on any sores that may develop on your feet. Diabetics tend to heal slowly and these sores can lead to the amputation of toes, feet and even your leg.
Kidney problems are another side effect of child diabetes and you really need to keep a close eye on this as well. Later in life you may require dialysis.
You can help to prevent all of these mentioned side effects by maintaining your blood glucose levels within the specified range and by eating healthy and continuing with an exercise program to the best of your abilities.
Visiting an endocrinologist on a regular basis is in your best interest. They can help to guide you through this process to ensure that you will lead a long, healthy life with as few side effects as possible.
Child diabetes: how to help your child cope
When there is a case of child diabetes, not only does the child suffer but the family does as well. With child diabetes, some of the daily responsibilities can include blood glucose tests, insulin injections, meal planning and treating low blood pressure depending on the type of diabetes your child suffers from. After the initial diagnosis, it is perfectly normal to feel both anxious and overwhelmed. However, since children notice these emotions it is important to keep them in check for your child.
Child Diabetes Testing Tips
If your child has trouble with needles then it is best to prepare the testing supplies where they cannot see them. When it comes to time for the test, make sure you do it as quickly as possible and let the child resume normal activities right after the test is complete.
After that if a child is fine with the testing process then perhaps you can allow them to take part by doing such tasks as wiping the spot with alcohol or select which finger to use for testing. Your child will be calmed by having a sense of control over the testing process.
Mealtime Tips
Child diabetes can be especially challenging for a child when it comes to mealtime. If possible, it is best to make mealtime a calm and pleasant experience.
Avoid choosing food for your child and expecting them to eat it, rather it is best to provide your child with a few food choices so they can still eat healthy but not feel forced to do so.
Make sure everyone eat the same food so that the child won’t be left out and the family can have the benefit of eating healthy food.
Signs of Low Blood Sugar in Child Diabetes
Despite all the efforts on behalf of parents, children with diabetes are still going to have low blood sugar from time to time.
A sign of low blood sugar may be a change from a child’s normal behavior. If children become more irritable, think usual or are becoming sleepy during a time they normally don’t then this can be a good indication that their blood sugar is getting low.
In case of low blood sugars, you should have something such as juice or soda on available. For children with diabetes it is better to have drinks rather than something that needs to be chewed.
It is best to have a meal or snack follow these sugar sources since they will not last long and you don’t want the blood sugar levels to drop down again.
To avoid low blood sugars at night it may be a good idea to do extra testing at night before bed.
So your child will be prepared it is a good idea to discuss and teach the signs of low blood sugar to your child. You should make sure they have a sugar source with them at all times and know what to do should their blood sugar get too low.
It is also extremely important that you make sure your child wears a medical ID at all time. If your child isn’t comfortable with having one, others see the medical ID bracelet then consider getting a medical ID that is on a necklace so it can be worn under their clothes.
Diabetes and diet
Eating fruits and vegetables is one of the best ways to maintain good health. Fruits and vegetables are an important part of a healthy diet and diabetic patients are not exempted.
They contain vitamins, photochemical, and minerals that can protect your body from diseases like diabetes, cancers, and heart diseases. Ideally, you should consume five kinds of vegetables and two kinds of fruits each day.
Fruits and vegetables are essential components of your daily diet. Some contain natural antioxidants that can help to keep you healthy and fit, providing nutrients which are valuable resources of energy and sustaining the quality of your life.
The common vitamins present in fruits and vegetables include vitamin A, vitamin C, foliate and potassium. Almost all fruits and vegetables are low in fat and calories. Many are excellent sources of natural fiber.
Vegetables that are said to be high in antioxidants and nutrients include broccoli, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, beets, carrots, onions, cauliflower, red peppers, squash, tomatoes, and garlic.
Fruits that some say are high in antioxidants and nutrients include apples, blueberries, apricots, bananas, cherries, cantaloupe, oranges, kiwifruits, peaches, and pink grapefruits.
Some health professionals recommend from five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables. The serving depends on your daily caloric intake. If you need around 2000 calories each day, you might need up to nine servings of fruits and vegetables each day.
You should get best results if you consume a variety of fruits and vegetables. Eating a single type or color of fruit and vegetable may not offer the required nutrition. Each type and color of fruit or vegetable that is generally available has some benefit.
To get the best nutrients from your fruits and vegetables, eat those which are in season in your region. Fresh product has the best levels of the nutrients we may need during the season.
If you eat out-of-season fruits and vegetables, their nutrient value might be less, they will probably cost more and their production and transportation may have a greater financial and environmental cost.
Your diet has a critical role in defining your health and energy levels which affects every other part of your life. The fruits and vegetables you consume regularly are a powerful storehouse of beneficial, even vital, vitamins and nutrients which help out body to protect it against many diseases and other negative factors in our environment.
Different fruits and vegetables offer varied benefits for your health.
Nutrients of Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and vegetables contain many different varieties of nutrients. Some fruits and vegetables are a virtual storehouse of beneficial minerals like anthocyanins, resveratrol, lycopene, and more photochemical are being found as research into the fruits and vegetables is conducted.
Photochemical
These plant nutrients help sustain your body against the worst ravages of the aging process and may help to reduce health risks like heart ailments, high blood pressure and cholesterol.
Some of the photochemical include:
Anthocyanins, available in blackberries, blueberries, cherries, eggplant, plums, and kiwi fruit are claimed by some to have important properties that may help reduce the occurrence of severity of some urinary tract infections.
Lycopene, available in watermelon, tomatoes, and pink grapefruit.
Resveratrol is available in red grapes and peanuts. CAUTION: more people are finding they may have an allergic reaction to peanuts every year
Suggested Servings of Fruit and Vegetables
People are often confused about the quantity indicated by a single serving or a cup. Ideally, one cup refers to:
Vegetables
2 cups raw leafy vegetables
1 cup raw or cooked vegetables
1 cup baby carrots or approximately twelve carrots
1 cup cooked or canned dried beans or peas
1Medium potato
1Cup vegetable juice
Fruits
1cup cut-up or cooked fruit
1 medium piece of fruit
1 large banana
1/2 cup dried fruit
1/4 small cantaloupe
1 cup berries or grapes
1 cup 100% fruit juice
Tips on Eating Healthier
Add a few of these tips to your new healthy lifestyle. Even if you just do a couple, they will make a great impact on the success of your weight loss program.
* Select non fat of 1% milk instead of whole milk.
* Savor a bowl of bananas, berries, low-fat milk and sugar substitute instead of a sweet roll.
* Use a nonstick pan and cooking spray in place of butter or margarine to prepare your eggs.
* Substitute no-sugar added jelly or jam for the sugar -rich varieties.
* Fill you omelet with onions, peppers, spinach and mushrooms instead of cheese and meat.
* Put lettuce, tomatoes, onions and pickles on your burger or sandwich instead of cheese.
* Stuff a pita with more fresh vegetables, less meat and cheese.
* Make a pizza with half the cheese.
* Choose low fat cottage cheese in place of regular.
* Leave 3-4 bites on your plate.
* Enjoy your salad with no croutons.
* Bake, broil or grill chicken and fish instead of frying.
* Remove the skin from your chicken.
* Grill Portobello mushrooms as a main or side dish in place of meats.
* Season steamed vegetables with fresh lemon and herbs instead of butter.
* Eat slowly to make your meal last and reduce your urge for second helpings.
* Freeze blended fresh fruit into a sorbet for a refreshing desert.
* Top angel food cake with berries instead of icing or chocolate sauce.
* Cut a slice of cake or pie in half.
* Enjoy a dish of fresh fruit in season instead of custard or pudding.
* Share your desert with someone else.
* Substitute half the oil in a recipe with applesauce when baking.
* Pay attention to serving sizes when drinking soft drinks, those calories add up.
* Add lemon juice to water in enhance the flavor.
* Freeze grapes or watermelon wedges for a popsicle-like treat.
* Blend a smoothies made with non-fat yogurt, skim milk and fresh fruit instead of ice cream.
# Try raw vegetables instead of tortilla chips with salsa.
# Try baked chips instead on the regular variety.
# Have less than one handful of mixed nuts.
# Munch on a small bag of microwave popcorn with no added butter.
# Skip the super-sized promotions when eating out.
# Choose a side salad instead of fries when ordering fast food.