Does your child have diabetes? (Diabetes Mellitus) Don't be afraid, let's talk about this!

When you find out that your child has diabetes, you have a big responsibility as a parent. You need to check your child's blood sugar levels, give them insulin on time, be careful about what they eat and drink, and keep their blood sugar levels within the right range at all times. Doing all of this at once can feel like a big burden. But don't worry, if you know exactly what to do in each situation, you can manage it easily.

Do we control blood sugar levels accurately?

Your child's doctor will tell you exactly how many times a day you should check your child's blood sugar, what the correct levels should be, and the best way to do it. You may need to prick your finger with a small needle to get a drop of blood, or your child may have a special blood glucose meter or continuous glucose monitor.

You may have to give your child insulin yourself, either as an injection or through an insulin pump. Your doctor will tell you how much to give and when to give it.

Little kids don't like to be pricked with a needle, but there are ways to make this task easier for them and for you.

• Breathing exercises: Take deep breaths with your child. This will help them calm down. When they are calm, they feel less hurt. For a small child, let them blow on a soap bubble. They will then unconsciously exhale slowly and deeply.
• Let your child choose which finger to prick with the needle. This will give them a sense of control.
• Count together: Count down from ten with you. He'll suddenly feel less scared because he knows that when he says zero, he'll be pricked with a needle.

Don't forget these things when you go to school.

Before leaving for school every morning, make a small checklist to make sure you have everything you need to check your blood sugar throughout the day in your bag. If your child can carry these items on their own, double-check that they are in their bag.

Whether you keep these items with your child or leave them with the school nurse, always check to make sure you have enough of them and that they are not expired .

Let's all eat healthy together as a family.

If your child has diabetes, it is very important that everyone in the family follows a healthy eating pattern.

If you are allowed to eat a small snack on special occasions like birthdays, ask your doctor if you need to adjust your insulin dosage.

Plan meals and snacks in advance. If your child eats at school, check out what the school cafeteria offers. Many schools post the menu and nutritional information online at the start of the school week. This will help you plan ahead.

Be careful of these things when exercising.

If your child is playing sports, or is more active than usual, check their blood sugar levels before they start exercising . Check again during and after exercise.

Exercise can affect blood sugar levels for up to 24 hours. You may need to give your child extra insulin or an extra snack. Talk to your child's doctor about this and come up with a plan that works for them.

The school should also be made aware of this.

With the help of your child's doctor, create a medical management plan. Give a copy to the school. The plan should clearly state what the school needs to do at each stage. These questions will help you create it:

• What treatment should be given if blood sugar is too high or too low ?
• Can a child monitor their blood sugar levels on their own?
• What are the guidelines for whether or not to allow sports based on blood sugar levels?

School parties and field trips may require a little extra preparation. Working together with the school staff, you can help your child's diabetes stay well-managed.

Give your young child responsibility little by little.

As children get older, they need more freedom and independence. If your child has diabetes, they may want to manage it on their own, or at least with less help from you.

As a parent, you may be afraid to give up this control because mistakes and problems may arise along the way. However, it is a very important step in your child's journey to adulthood.

If your young child is ready to take on this responsibility, here are some things that will help them:

• Give up control gradually. Don't do it all at once, but gradually give the child responsibility, seeing if he can do the job properly.
• Don't constantly blame. Avoid constantly blaming him for the way he takes care of his things.
• Appreciate the good things. Appreciate when he does things well. Then he will want to do those things even better.
• Let him talk to the doctor alone. That way he will feel in control of his health.
• Remind him that he can talk to you anytime. Remind him that he can talk to you anytime, about anything.

Always be prepared for an emergency.

No matter how well planned, your child's blood sugar levels can suddenly rise or fall. In addition to emergency insulin, your child should always have a "low box" with them, a box to use in case their blood sugar drops . Inside this box, keep a few quick-rechargeable items, such as glucose tablets, toffee, or juice.

Tell your child's teachers, school van driver, sports coach, and other caregivers about your child's condition. Make sure they are clear about what to do and who to call in case of an emergency. Instruct them to take the child to the nearest hospital emergency room (ETU) immediately if an emergency occurs.

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