Take Charge
A child with type 2 diabetes needs to
adhere to a management plan that may include diet and exercise alone or may require oral medications and/or insulin injections
emergency situation. Mild symptoms of hypoglycemia may include shakiness, dizziness or irritability. Treatment is a quick sugar source such as four ounces of juice or six ounces of regu- lar soda. Symptoms of moderate hypo- glycemia include blurred vision, slurred speech and behavior changes. Treatment is the same for mild hypoglycemia with a repeat blood test after 15 minutes and an additional sugar source if indicated. If a child has a sudden change in behavior, he should be treated for hypoglycemia. Severe hypoglycemia is an emergency situation — with an inability to swallow or a loss of consciousness — and you should notify emergency services. The child’s family, school personnel or someone aware of the child’s health status can give a glucagon injection, but a parent not familiar with the child should call 911 immediately. Children and teens should always have their blood glucose monitor- ing kit with them and test their blood with any mild or moderate symptoms of hypo- glycemia. If their blood glucose levels are
54
low, they can easily drink a quick source of sugar and prevent a severe medical emergency. Children and teens have an individual target blood glucose level, and they need to know the steps to take if results are out of that range. The other short-term complication
is hyperglycemia or high blood sugar. Sometimes the blood glucose levels are elevated or above the child’s target range. This may result when the child receives too little insulin, eats more food than planned and insulin coverage is not enough, is stressed, is sick with an underlying infection and may be unaware of growth spurts. Symptoms of mild hy- perglycemia may include thirst, frequent urination, fatigue or sleepiness. In addition to those symptoms, moderate hyperglyce- mia may include nausea and vomiting. When a child has severe hypergly-
cemia, he will also have symptoms of labored breathing, confusion and loss of consciousness. Children and teens should always have their blood glucose monitor- ing kit with them and test their blood with
www.readysetgrowmag.com
ISTOCK.COM
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108