After your child’s been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D), you may have a lot of questions. What caused them to get this condition? Will they have it for life? How are you supposed to manage it?
Here’s what you need to know to support your child and put your mind at ease.
What Is Type 1 Diabetes (T1D)?
T1D used to be called juvenile diabetes. It’s a chronic (lifelong) condition that doesn’t have a cure.
If your child has T1D, their pancreas can’t make a key hormone called insulin. Insulin lets blood sugar into your cells so your body can turn it into fuel. Without insulin, blood sugar builds up in your bloodstream. That can cause severe, even life-threatening, harm to major organs like your heart, kidneys, and eyes.
T1D is less common than type 2 diabetes (T2D). A child with T2D can still make insulin, but their body can’t use it well.
What Causes T1D?
Experts believe that T1D is an autoimmune disorder. Your child’s immune system, which protects against germs and disease, is mistakenly trying to destroy the special cells that make insulin. This may go on for a while before your child starts to have symptoms.
It’s unclear what triggers this immune system problem. Genes, which provide the code that tells cells how to behave, likely play a role. Having a parent or sibling with T1D makes a child 15 times more likely to have it, too. But 85% of kids with T1D have no family history of the disease. That could mean that something in the environment, like a virus, could also be a trigger.
The thing to remember is that no one is to blame for T1D. There’s no way to prevent it.
What Are the Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes?
Common signs of T1D include:
- Feeling thirsty
- Fatigue (feeling tired)
- Weight loss
- Peeing more than usual
- Wetting the bed
- Changes in mood or behavior
- Fruity-smelling breath
Not all kids have symptoms. That’s because T1D happens in stages. If your child is in an early stage, they won’t have signs.
How Is T1 Diagnosed?
You could find out that your child has T1D a few different ways:
- Blood sugar test: A random blood sample is the most common way that T1D is found. If your child shows symptoms and their blood sugar is 200 mg/dL or higher, they may be diagnosed with T1D.
- Fasting blood sugar test: Your child will need to fast (go without food) for at least 8 hours to take this test. If they have T1D, their blood sugar level will be 126 mg/dL or higher.
- A1c (glycated hemoglobin) test: This blood test can reveal your child’s average blood sugar for the past 3 months. A result of 6.5% or higher (on two separate tests) points to T1D.
- Antibody screening: A special test can reveal if your insulin-making cells are under attack from your immune system. It looks for special proteins called antibodies in your blood. This screening can help find people who are at risk for T1D before they have symptoms.
How Is T1D Treated?
T1D is a lifelong condition. There’s no cure, but you can manage it on a daily basis.
Your child will need to:
- Eat healthy foods
- Count carbohydrates (nutrients that have the biggest effect on blood sugar)
- Check their blood sugar often
- Take insulin to keep their blood sugar in a healthy range
- Know the signs of low and high blood sugar and how to quickly treat them
- Check in often with their doctor
Following all these steps is important. High blood sugar (hyperglycemia) could damage your child’s nerves, eyes, heart, and kidneys. Severe low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can cause seizures or brain damage.
What’s the Outlook for Type 1 Diabetes?
T1D is an issue that your child will have for life. It can be tricky to manage. There are a lot of things to remember and do every day. But if your child learns to manage their blood sugar well and can avoid any complications, their outlook is good.
There are also lots of reasons to feel hopeful. Experts keep looking into T1D and finding new ways to manage it. For instance, a new drug called teplizumab-mzwv (Tzield) can “turn off” the immune cells that attack insulin-making cells. Your doctor can prescribe it to children aged 8 and older who are still in the early stages of T1D.
How to Help Your Child Manage T1D
Tight control of your child’s blood sugar will help them feel better right now and prevent severe health issues in the future. You’ll likely have to adjust some habits and make changes to your daily routine. As you do, here are a few things to keep in mind.
Keep T1D supplies handy. Put together a small bag with everything your child needs for daily care and in case of an emergency. They should always have this with them, whether they’re at school, a sleepover, or a soccer game. If you live somewhere hot, use an insulated bag with ice packs.
Educate other caregivers. Make sure everyone who watches your child, like a sitter or their grandparents, knows about their T1D. Explain when and how your child may need insulin and how to reach you with any questions.
Practice good dental care. T1D puts your child at risk for cavities and other issues with their teeth and gums. (Dental problems can also make their T1D worse.) Urge your child to brush their teeth twice a day, and schedule regular dental checkups.
Take sick days seriously. The flu, a bacterial infection, or sometimes even a cold can affect your child’s blood sugar. When they’re under the weather, check their levels more often than usual. Their insulin dosage may also need to change. Your doctor can give you advice.
Support your child at school. Too-high or too-low blood sugar can make it hard for your child to focus in school. A 504 plan lets you outline reasonable changes that their teacher can make to help your child succeed in the classroom. For instance, they may give your child extra time on a test if they need to manage their blood sugar. Talk to a school counselor about how to set up a 504.
Watch over your child’s mental health. Kids with T1D have a greater chance of having depression and anxiety. If your child is struggling to cope with their condition, look into some extra support. A counselor or therapist can teach them some new ways to manage their feelings.
Join an in-person or online T1D group. Doing so lets you connect with other parents whose kids live with T1D. You can share tips and experiences. Talking with them may also help you feel more empowered.
Prepare for puberty. As your child gets older, you’ll need to make changes in how they manage their T1D. For instance, insulin doses often need to go up during puberty. Stay in touch with your doctor and ask questions as they come up.
Show Sources
Photo Credit: AzmanL / Getty Images
SOURCES:
Nemours KidsHealth: “What is Type 1 Diabetes?” “Diabetes To-Go Kit.”
Mayo Clinic: “Type 1 Diabetes in Children,” “Type 1 Diabetes."
CDC: “Just Diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes,” “What is Type 1 Diabetes?”
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation: “T1Detect: Learn About Type 1 Diabetes Risk Screening,” “Who Is At Risk for Type 1 Diabetes?” “Type 1 Diabetes and the Flu (and Other Illnesses),” “Prepping An Occasional Babysitter to Watch Your Child With T1D,” “When Type 1 Meets the Teenage Years.”
FDA: “FDA Approves First Drug That Can Delay Onset of Type 1 Diabetes.”
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: “Diabetes, Gum Disease, and Other Dental Problems.”
Cleveland Clinic: “Type 1 Diabetes.”
Nutrients: “Carbohydrate Counting in Children and Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes.”
Stanford Medicine Children’s Health: “Hypoglycemia in Children.”
Nationwide Children’s Hospital: “10 Things You Need to Know about Type 1 Diabetes.”
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital: “A Mom’s Mental Health Tips for Parents of Kids with T1D.”
