Treating Type 1 Diabetes
Management Methods and Treatments
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas is unable to produce insulin. Insulin helps the body intake glucose, which is in many foods and is needed for energy. Type 1 diabetes cannot be cured. Once the body’s immune system begins to attack the cells that produce insulin, the body will never be able to produce it again. The disease can be very dangerous, so it is important to seek help from a medical professional.
Kids must monitor their blood glucose levels multiple times a day. The blood glucose level lets you know how much glucose is still in the bloodstream and how much has been absorbed by cells in the body. If the blood glucose level gets too high, insulin is needed. There are devices that can measure the blood glucose level, which you and your child will need to learn how to operate.
You or your child will have to administer insulin injections. Follow the prescription outlined by your child’s doctor. Typically, insulin shots will have to be given one to two times per day. There is also a device called an insulin pump, which doesn’t require injections. Talk to your child’s doctor to come up with the best treatment plan.
Your child will need to maintain a healthy and balanced diet. This means being vigilant about what and when your child eats. Maintain an eating schedule to make sure your child doesn’t go too long without food or isn’t eating too often. Timing of meals will have to work in accordance with when your child takes insulin and the amount of physical activity he or she gets. You and your child will have to pay attention to the types of foods eaten, especially the starches and sugars in food. Your child does not have to follow a strict or special diet in most cases. A child with diabetes still needs the same nutrients as any other child. But you must be careful about what goes into your child’s body so blood glucose levels don’t get too high.
It is important for your child with diabetes to get regular physical activity. Exercise can help maintain blood glucose levels as well as prevent future illnesses.
Image by jyyne_2000 on Flickr Creative Commons.
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