Child Diabetes: Self-Management
Your child may not
understand the need to put in extra work to care for their diabetes. They might
believe that they will never have complications or they may feel that problems
will occur no matter what they do.
It might help to talk with
your child about how frustrating it is to have diabetes. Remind them that by
practicing good diabetes care today, they are helping to prevent problems in
the future.
Your child may be
overweight and losing weight will be an important part of the diabetes care
plan. You should consult with your doctor to put together a plan including
healthy eating and regular physical activity that your child can follow. Ask
other family members to help with the plan. A healthy diet not only helps
control your child's diabetes, but may benefit the whole family as well.
To keep diabetes under control:
- Monitor blood sugar
- Eat healthy
- Remain physically active
- Have an annual general
physical
- Have an annual eye exam
- Visit the dentist twice
a year
- Keep up-to-date with
vaccinations
- Take care of your
child's feet
- Talk to you child about
the dangers of smoking
- Monitor blood pressure
- Manage stress
