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Type 1 diabetes is most commonly seen in children and adolescents. However, it should be understood that the pillars of diabetes management are regular blood sugar monitoring, a healthy and balanced diet, physical activity and treatment with insulin.
For effective management, support from parents, teachers, and caregivers is very necessary. Children with Type 1 diabetes can enjoy school, travel, and perform daily activities like any other children of their age if they are supported and managed well.
What is Type 1 diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which the pancreatic cells which produce insulin are attacked, resulting in a deficiency of the hormone “insulin”.
Insulin helps sugar to enter the body's cells for energy, the deficiency of which leads to a surge in the blood sugar levels. Type 1 diabetes doesn’t happen due to eating too much sugar or an unhealthy lifestyle. It is seen in children and young adults and needs lifelong insulin treatment as recommended by the expert.
The symptoms seen in children can be frequent urination, excessive thirst, constant hunger, unexplained weight loss, tiredness, blurred vision, and frequent infections.
If left unmanaged, Type 1 diabetes can raise the chances of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), severe dehydration, low blood sugar episodes, and long-term damage to the eyes, kidneys, nerves, and heart.
Managing diabetes in school
Managing Type 1 diabetes during school will need teamwork between parents, teachers, and the child. School staff, class teacher and school medical team should be informed about the child’s condition, educated about basic diabetic care if needed with the help of your treating doctor, explained about symptoms of low blood sugar and taught to do the necessary intervention at the earliest during an emergency and to not wait for parents to reach.
- The children should always carry an emergency kit which should contain insulin, a blood sugar monitor, glucose tablets or glucon D powder, healthy snacks, a water bottle and emergency contact numbers.
- They should never skip meals, especially after taking insulin.
- They should be allowed to participate in all school activities.
- Any discomfort should be informed to the medical team/ teacher immediately.
- They should have a safe space in school to administer their pre meal doses of insulin during school hours. Bullying or any sort of discrimination by fellow students should be dealt with strictly.
Travelling with diabetes
Travelling with Type 1 diabetes will require proper planning.
- Parents/ caregivers should make sure to carry enough and extra insulin, syringes or insulin pens, glucose monitoring supplies, batteries for devices if needed, snacks, and even a doctor's prescription.
- During air travel, diabetes medicines should be carried in your hand luggage instead of checked in baggage. Parents should monitor their child's blood sugar levels regularly, if required more frequently during long journeys especially when crossing time zones. They should make sure that the child stays hydrated by drinking enough water and eating meals on time.
- During road travels, make sure to store enough water supply and healthy snacks during the course of the journey.
- If travelling to a new place, the location of hospitals and medicine shops should be searched in advance.
Children with Type 1 diabetes can lead a perfectly normal life and participate in all activities and travel anywhere in the world but with little extra care, planning and support.Dr. Kochurani Abraham, Consultant Pediatric Endocrinologist at Ankura Hospital for Women and Child, Pune, Aundh
English (US) ·