Does your child have diabetes?

Here’s what you need to know..

28th November, 2019

Diabetes… this word still gives us jitters no matter how many times we hear the words. And if kids are involved, even more so. Unfortunately, close to 97,000 children in India suffer from Type 1 diabetes (no production of insulin in the body). What’s more, an alarming number are being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes (when the body has enough insulin but does not respond to it).

Here are some immediate steps you can take if your child is diagnosed with diabetes…

1. Consult with a doctor: Once the child is diagnosed with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, he or she would require frequent monitoring by a medical practitioner to manage the prescription of insulin or medication.
2. Make some lifestyle changes…
a. Meal timings: To avoid spikes or a drop in blood glucose levels, timing of the meals play an important role.
b. Balanced meals: All meals should be well balanced with carbs + fibre + protein and fat.
c. Portion control: Do not encourage over eating or forceful eating.
d. Foods to eat and avoid: Till the sugar levels get under control, avoid desserts, fried foods, aerated beverages, starchy vegetables etc. Consult a nutritionist to manage meals and learn carb counting especially in the case of Type 1 diabetics. Include foods that are fiber-rich like oats, multigrain cereal, wheat or multigrain rotis, low-fat milk etc.

3. Educate your child: Make him/her understand why it’s so important to restrict some foods and learn how to eat right.
4. Make a blood sugar chart: As a parent, make the initial effort to maintain a blood sugar chart for your child and educate him/ her about the same. A daily chart is apt for analysis for both doctors and nutritionists to make changes in their medication or diet plan. Type 1 diabetics may have to check their blood 4 times a day, which can be tedious, but with support of family and friends the process can be smooth.
6. Encourage physical activity: There’s umpteen amount of research available on the positive effect of physical activity on diabetes management. Not all kids with diabetes obese, some even lose weight. Hence it’s important manage weight under the guidance of nutritionist or a doctor.

Note: Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented as it’s genetic or congenital, but Type2 diabetes can very easily be reversed and even avoided. Identify these pre-diabetic symptoms in your child…

– Excessive sweet cravings
– Lethargy
If any of the above symptoms are seen, meet a doctor or a nutritionist to understand if the child is heading towards diabetes.- Akenthosis negricans (pigmentations on neck)
– Weight gain, especially on stomach
– High levels of insulin in blood test