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3 practical moves to make when your child is diagnosed with T1D

3 practical moves to make when your child is diagnosed with T1D

by

Sabrina Garibian

posted in Parenting

If your child was recently diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes you have to become accustomed to daily monitoring and care as well as to worrying about your child’s sugar levels on an hourly basis — even during the night. As you help your child face this difficult and scary new world, you may be looking for support too.

I’ve learned a lot about Type 1 diabetes (T1D), as my niece was just recently diagnosed , and one of the first things I’ve learned is how hard the disease can be on loved ones.

 

So with that in mind:

3 practical things to try when your child has Type 1 diabetes

1. Act early. 

One of the most important pieces of the puzzle for Type 1 diabetes is recognizing the symptoms. Extreme thirst or hunger, peeing through diapers or using the bathroom a lot, crankiness, and weight loss can all be symptoms of T1D. Being educated about Type 1 diabetes and getting treatment early are important keys in managing it.

2. Look into clinical trials.

Medicine and research for T1D have progressed, but there’s no cure yet. Clinical trials can help researchers understand if an medicine being investigated works, is safe, and can improve the quality of life for a patient. Looking for potential clinical trials is one way you can help the cause. If you want to know more, BabyCenter has information on clinical trials for children and families.

3. Find support. 

The moms on the BabyCenter community group Children with T1 Diabetes can be so helpful if you need information, or just a shoulder to cry on. While many doctors provide a nurse line for questions regarding T1D, sometimes you just need to talk to another parent who can relate or might be able to help when you’re having a problem. You can meet other parents coping with T1D and share what works for you, whether it’s keeping a list of carb counts for favorite restaurants so you don’t have to scramble at the last minute, or using a permanent marker to label snacks with grams/serving and carb count/serving so you don’t have to search through the nutrition facts every time.

Type 1 diabetes is a lifelong battle, but that doesn’t mean your family has to go through it alone. Seek support: from fellow T1D families, from your doctor, and from friends who can relate. Act early, be sure to get the proper treatment for your child, and communicate with your doctor about any changes. And look into clinical trials, because without them we will not be able to advance research in finding better, more effective medicines for treating Type 1 diabetes.

Where do you look for support when dealing with your child’s Type 1 diabetes?

Images by iStock

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