Diabetes Treatment for Children: Types, Management & Monitoring

Diabetes is a long-term medical condition characterized by high levels of glucose, or blood sugar. Children can have Type 1 diabetes, where the pancreas produces little or no insulin, or Type 2 diabetes, where the body doesn't use insulin correctly. There are several different treatments for diabetes that occurs in children.

Blood-Sugar Monitoring

• Kids with diabetes usually need to test their blood a minimum of three times a day to make sure their glucose levels are within a healthy range. The target range for school-age children is typically 70 to 180 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL).

Medications

• Children with Type 1 diabetes need to take daily doses of insulin. Many children with Type 2 diabetes also need insulin treatments, but some take other glucose-lowering medications, such as metformin and glimperide.

Diet

• Diabetic children should eat plenty of healthy, natural foods and limit their intake of fats, sweets and carbohydrates. Diabetic children face the challenge of following a healthy diet plan even when they are at school, extracurricular activities and friends' houses.

Physical Activity

• Diabetic children need to get some form of aerobic exercise almost every day to help manage their blood-sugar levels. They can stay physically active by signing up for a school sports team, a martial-arts class or dance lessons.

Considerations

• Diabetic children often have to adjust their medications due to unpredictable changes caused by hormones and growth spurts.