Enjoy the following guest post about taking care of a diabetic child.
Liberty Atienza helps drive information about the connection of heart disease and diabetes through the For Your Sweetheart campaign. Apart from this, she enjoys writing and spending time with her family.
Liberty Atienza helps drive information about the connection of heart disease and diabetes through the For Your Sweetheart campaign. Apart from this, she enjoys writing and spending time with her family.
No matter what variety of diabetes your child is diagnosed with, it's never easy. Diabetes is a disease that causes a spike in blood sugar levels. Individuals diagnosed with diabetes can potentially damage their vital organs like the kidneys, nerves, and more.
Diabetes has two types, namely, type 1 and type 2. Having your child diagnosed with diabetes is a frustrating moment as a parent. However, there is still something you can do. In this article, we'll be listing down how to take care of your loved ones with diabetes.
Diabetes has two types, namely, type 1 and type 2. Having your child diagnosed with diabetes is a frustrating moment as a parent. However, there is still something you can do. In this article, we'll be listing down how to take care of your loved ones with diabetes.
1. Guide them towards a healthy diet
Nutrition and diet are essential when dealing with a child diagnosed with diabetes. You should be aware of three macronutrients when providing or creating meals for your child –– carbohydrates, protein, and fats. Out of these three, carbohydrates have the highest tendency to cause a spike in your child's blood sugar, mainly because of something called the glycemic index.
Carbohydrates are of two kinds of carbohydrates, which are simple carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates. Between these, simple carbohydrates have a simple chemical structure that causes a spike in the blood sugar compared to complex carbohydrates, which are generally food containing more fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
Of course, this doesn't mean your child should avoid carbohydrates altogether as the body needs energy sources. However, it does mean that it should be complex carbohydrates rather than simple carbohydrates and empty calories that you should be incorporating into your child's diet. With protein and fat, you don't have to worry as much as they don't cause much of an effect the way carbohydrates do for your child's body.
Carbohydrates are of two kinds of carbohydrates, which are simple carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates. Between these, simple carbohydrates have a simple chemical structure that causes a spike in the blood sugar compared to complex carbohydrates, which are generally food containing more fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
Of course, this doesn't mean your child should avoid carbohydrates altogether as the body needs energy sources. However, it does mean that it should be complex carbohydrates rather than simple carbohydrates and empty calories that you should be incorporating into your child's diet. With protein and fat, you don't have to worry as much as they don't cause much of an effect the way carbohydrates do for your child's body.
2. Reduce or cut off their sugar intake
This step is one of the most challenging parts when your child has diabetes, as children are generally fond of sweets. However, sugar is just empty calories and all the chocolates and sweets they're putting in their body have absolutely no nutrients. They're also simple sugars, which means they will cause an immediate spike in your child's blood sugar levels.
If you find that your child really can't move forward without sugar or sweets, there are always sugar substitutes you can incorporate into their diet instead. Teach your child from a young age not to depend too much on sugar as the reality is that they provide empty calories, and they'll end up addicted to sugar the more they consume it.
If you find that your child really can't move forward without sugar or sweets, there are always sugar substitutes you can incorporate into their diet instead. Teach your child from a young age not to depend too much on sugar as the reality is that they provide empty calories, and they'll end up addicted to sugar the more they consume it.
3. Monitor their insulin intake
Taking insulin is crucial to children diagnosed with diabetes, so you need to monitor this aspect. As long as they're regularly taking insulin as prescribed, their body uses glucose for energy, which encourages their blood levels to remain at a healthy level.
Medications in the form of pills may be convenient, but this doesn't apply to insulin since the stomach acids will destroy the insulin once swallowed. Insulin can only be taken in the form of injections, which is where you come into significance—to ensure that your child is getting regular insulin to avoid having their blood sugar spike up.
Medications in the form of pills may be convenient, but this doesn't apply to insulin since the stomach acids will destroy the insulin once swallowed. Insulin can only be taken in the form of injections, which is where you come into significance—to ensure that your child is getting regular insulin to avoid having their blood sugar spike up.
4. Encourage physical activity
It's never too early to start being physically active, especially for a child diagnosed with diabetes. Exercise can help regulate and maintain your child's blood sugar levels without causing them to spike up. Physical activity is already well-known for its benefits, but this is especially true for individuals diagnosed with diabetes.
Exercise lowers glucose levels and encourages the body's insulin sensitivity. If you can get your child to exercise regularly, around two to three hours after a meal, it would be easier to avoid their blood sugar from rising.
Any physical activity for your child would do. If you find they enjoy cardio such as running or even dancing, then that's all the more reason to encourage your child to engage in physical activity. Before letting your child engage in physical activity, feed them with a banana or orange to ensure their blood sugar remains normal.
Exercise lowers glucose levels and encourages the body's insulin sensitivity. If you can get your child to exercise regularly, around two to three hours after a meal, it would be easier to avoid their blood sugar from rising.
Any physical activity for your child would do. If you find they enjoy cardio such as running or even dancing, then that's all the more reason to encourage your child to engage in physical activity. Before letting your child engage in physical activity, feed them with a banana or orange to ensure their blood sugar remains normal.
Takeaways
Out of all the diseases, diabetes is one of the most common in the world. According to the World Health Organization, approximately half of the deaths caused by high glucose levels occur before individuals turn 70, according to the World Health Organization. If your child has diabetes, this is all the more reason to watch out for their blood sugar levels and ensure that they're getting the right nutrition and physical activity. Through both diet and exercise, it's possible to manage diabetes.
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If you haven’t already read the book, it’s a great place to start - Relationship Reboot: Break free from the bad habits in your relationship.
David B. Younger, Ph.D. is the creator of Love After Kids, for couples that have grown apart since having children. He is a clinical psychologist and couples therapist with a web-based private practice and lives in Austin, Texas with his wife, 16-year-old son, 7-year-old daughter and 9-year-old toy poodle.
If you haven’t already read the book, it’s a great place to start - Relationship Reboot: Break free from the bad habits in your relationship.
David B. Younger, Ph.D. is the creator of Love After Kids, for couples that have grown apart since having children. He is a clinical psychologist and couples therapist with a web-based private practice and lives in Austin, Texas with his wife, 16-year-old son, 7-year-old daughter and 9-year-old toy poodle.
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