How can Type 1 Diabetes/ Pediatric Diabetes present?
- Classic triad –
- Polyuria
- Polydipsia
- Weight loss
- General malaise/ Weakness/ Loss of energy
- Headache
- Pain abdomen
- Irritable/ ill-tempered
- Bed wetting
- Blurring of vision
- Leg cramps
- Infections
- Genital itching (Girls)
- Altered consciousness/ Coma
How can Type 1 Diabetes be diagnosed?
- Symptoms of Diabetes + Random Plasma Glucose of 200mg/dl or higher
- The fasting Blood Glucose >126mg/dl OR
- Plasma glucose of 200mg/dl or higher at 2 hours during an OGTT.
What are key factors in Type 1 Diabetes management?
- Regular Blood Glucose monitoring
- Insulin administration
- Lifestyle management (Diet & Exercise)
What are Treatment objectives of Diabetes management?
- Eliminate diabetic symptoms
- Prevention of Acute Complications: DKA & hypoglycemia
- HbA1C < 8%
- BG
- 80-120mg/dl fasting
- 100-140mg/dl before meal
- 100-200mg/dl after meals
- Normal growth & puberty
- Early detection of associated diseases
- Prevention of Chronic Vascular Complications
How many times Blood Sugar be checked daily?
- Ideally BG should be checked 5 times/day -
- Morning- before breakfast (fasting)
- Afternoon- before lunch
- Evening- before dinner
- 5-3 hrs post dinner
- Late night- 3 am
- It is essential to check BG and give Insulin injection before giving 3 major meals - Breakfast/ Lunch/ Dinner
Which are different type of insulins used and how they should be stored?
- Insulins should not be exposed to temperatures > 25ºC or frozen
- No sunlight exposure
- Pens, unused vials and cartridges should be stored in the door of refrigerator
- Pen should be “Primed” with every needle/ cartridge change.
Can Type 1 Diabetes kids all kinds of foodstuffs?
- Yes, diet is based on taste of individuals, kids can have normal diet as non-diabetics
- Avoid simple sugars like- table sugar, honey, candy, sweets, fruit juices etc.
- Eat balanced meals with inclusion of variety of vegetables, whole grains and pulses.
- Consistency in timing and amount of food consumed is important.
- Meals should be timed according to the insulin schedule
- Total caloric intake is divided into 3 meals and 2-3 mid-meal snacks
- If peak time of insulin is over and child is hungry, FREE FOODS (carbohydrate < 5 grams) can be given to the child before next meal –
- Lemonade (salted)
- Buttermilk
- Paneer/tofu
- Soya
- White portion of egg
- Salad (no salad dressing)
- Soups (veg/ chicken)- avoid adding cream/butter/corn/corn starch
- Popcorn (prepared at home)
- Roasted chana- murmura
- Nuts- almonds and walnuts (4-5)
- Roasted Makhana
What are sites of insulin injection?
- Site of insulin injection should be changed regularly to avoid lipohypertrophy/ atrophy.
Can Type 1 Diabetes kids participate in all kinds of physical activity?
- All Type 1 Diabetes kids should exercise and participate in all kinds of sports regularly.
- Gives a sense of well being
- Improves glycemic control
- Improves the CV risk factors: lipids, BP
- Helps maintain desirable body weight
What to do if child has low BG <80mg/dl?
- Give ½ - 1 teaspoon of sugar to the child (depending on child’s age)– Repeat BG check after 20 mins
- Other options – honey/glucose water/2-3 sips coke/ juice
- DO NOT give chocolates/biscuits/toffees- as these contain fat, so they do not increase blood sugar immediately.
- Injection GLUCAGON – to be used only in case of hypoglycaemic emergency
What to do if child has high BG>300mg/dl?
- Increase insulin dosage
- Change your insulin vial
- Check for KETONES in urine (ketodiastix)
- Make your child drink more water
- Contact your doctor
What to do if your child is sick?
- DO NOT STOP INSULIN !!!
- Take frequent blood glucose readings (every 2-4 hours), especially at night-time.
- In sickness, ketones should be checked even if blood sugar readings are normal or mildly elevated.
- Avoid strenuous exercise if BG> 250mg/dl or ketones are moderate-large.
- Try to eat a normal diet.
- Small frequent meals of easily digestible foods like- soups, crackers, toast, milk, tea, breakfast cereal etc.
- Close contact with the diabetes team!!!
When to bring your sick child to hospital?
- Very young age (< 2 years)
- Fever> 100.5 for > 2 days / increasingly sick child
- Persistent Vomiting & diarrhea
- Moderate to large ketones in urine
- Patient becomes drowsy/ unconscious
- Child shows any symptoms of DKA- fruity breath, dehydration, dry lips, difficulty in breathing, stomach cramps etc.
Can my Type 1 Diabetic child attend school like other kids?
- All children should be attending school
- Academic expectations should be the same
- Teachers and school nurse should be informed about general rules and emergency situations
- Written material about diabetes should be handed out to school staff
- A close communication should exist between home and school
What precautions should be taken while travelling with Type 1 Diabetes child?
- Appointment with your doctor 4–6 weeks before travel
- Family should be capable of treating hypo- and hyperglycaemic episodes
- Parents should know about sick-day management
- Make sure that travel health insurance is valid
- Whenever you travel, you should carry following things with you -
- Insulin pens (with ice packs)
- Extra cartridges
- Glucometer with strips
- Something sweet – sugar sachet/candy/juice
- A snack
- If travelling for more than a day – ketone sticks and Inj. Glucagon
How often should you visit your Paediatric Endocrinologist & Diabetes specialist?
- Follow-up every 3 months for adjustment of insulin doses and physical check up
- To check injection sites
- BG log should be brought along with Glucometer at every visit
- HbA1C checked every 3 months
- Yearly investigations