Type 1 Diabetes: Children Living With the Disease
When To Call a Doctor
Call 911 or other emergency services immediately if your child is:
- Unconscious or becomes very sleepy unexpectedly. Your child may have low blood sugar, called hypoglycemia. While waiting for emergency help, follow:
- Drowsy, confused, breathing fast, and your child’s breath smells fruity. Your child may have high blood sugar, called hyperglycemia. A life-threatening condition called diabetic ketoacidosis could be present.
Call a doctor immediately if your child is vomiting and cannot keep down liquids and has a blood sugar of 250 mg/dL or higher.
Call a doctor if your child:
- Is sick for more than 2 days (unless it is a mild illness, such as a cold), and your child:
- Has been vomiting or had diarrhea for more than 6 hours.
- Has followed his/her doctor's advice but it has not worked. Learn what to do when you are sick and have diabetes.
- Has blood sugar levels that are often above 250 mg/dL and urine tests for ketones show more than 2+ or moderate or higher ketones.
- Has a blood sugar level that stays below the target range after eating some quick-sugar food.
- Has a blood sugar level that stays high after taking a missed dose of insulin or taking an extra dose of insulin (if prescribed by the doctor).
- Has frequent problems with high or low blood sugar levels. The insulin dose or schedule may need to be changed.
- Is having difficulty knowing when his or her blood sugar is low (hypoglycemia unawareness).
- Is having problems following the meal plan or getting physical activity, and you want help.
Watchful Waiting
Watchful waiting is a period of time during which you and your doctor study your health without using medical treatment. Watchful waiting is not appropriate for a child with type 1 diabetes if blood sugar levels are frequently high or low. His or her treatment may need changing. Keeping your child's blood sugar levels within a normal or near-normal range helps prevent high blood sugar emergencies and long-term complications, such as eye, kidney, heart, blood vessel, and nerve damage.
Who To See
Health professionals who may care for a child with type 1 diabetes include:
- A pediatrician, a family medicine doctor, or a general practitioner.
- A nurse practitioner or a physician assistant.
- A pediatric endocrinologist.
- A certified diabetes educator (CDE).
- A registered dietitian, to help develop a daily meal plan for your child and your family.
- A psychologist, to help with emotional or family issues that might affect your child's treatment.
To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.
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| Author: | Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS | Last Updated: December 3, 2008 |
| Medical Review: | Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics Stephen LaFranchi, MD - Pediatrics and Pediatric Endocrinology | |
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