What You Should Know If Your Child Has Type 1 Diabetes
Being a parent, you never want to hear that your child has any type of health issue or problem. As such, it can be tough to find out that they have a condition like type 1 diabetes. While type 1 diabetes is a serious condition to be diagnosed with, it is something that can be managed with medical care and lifestyle choices. In order to provide your child with the best care and support possible for their type 1 diabetes, get to know some of the important facts about living with and managing this condition. Then, you and your child can begin your journey of dealing with type 1 diabetes together.
Type 1 Diabetes is a Lifelong Diagnosis
One of the most important facts to keep in mind about type 1 diabetes is that there is no cure for the disease, and once a person has type 1 diabetes, they will always have it. Many people believe that proper diet and exercise can get rid of diabetes, but this is only partially accurate. Taking these steps can certainly help in the management of diabetes, and in the case of type 2 diabetes, may even reverse the disease. However, type 1 and type 2 diabetes are different in many ways, this being one of them.
Knowing that type 1 diabetes is a lifelong diagnosis, you can better help your child in coping with their diagnosis. You do not want to give them false hope regarding their health. You and your child will need to be realistic regarding their diagnosis. If you approach the condition with the idea of long-term maintenance and management in mind rather than curing the disease, you will both fare far better and have a better understanding of what to expect.
An Insulin Pump Can Work Wonders
Type 1 diabetes means that your child's body does not produce insulin. Because of this, they will be insulin dependent for the rest of their life. To get insulin into the body, your child will have to have it injected. This can be done through manual injections using syringes.
However, another option is an insulin pump. An insulin pump is an IV infusion pump that will release the insulin that your child needs when they need it. It can provide a continuous dose of insulin and can also be manually set to release extra doses as needed depending on food intake and blood sugar levels.
Insulin pumps can work wonders for your child, and can greatly improve the ease with which they manage their type 1 diabetes. Children like to run and play, go to school, and do all of the normal things that children do. Using an insulin pump can help make this possible. Your child will be able to play with their friends without missing a dose of insulin. They can go to school without frequent trips to the nurses office for insulin injections, and they can generally live the "normal" life of a child.
Now that you know just a few of the facts you should be aware of when your child has type 1 diabetes, you can start helping them manage their condition as soon as possible.