Diabetes isn't the End of the World
Resources to Help Children Live a Happy Healthy Life with Diabetes
Apr 15, 2009
Diabetes has consumed media outlets with a fervor that was unseen ten years ago. One thing remains the same; the number of people who have the disease has increased, but knowledge of the disease has not. Fears and misinformation about the disease exist, sometimes unwittingly compounded by a healthcare professional, as in the case of Janine, a twenty year-old student.
One day, as Janine was grocery shopping a woman came up to her and pointed at her insulin pump. "My son has one of those," she said. He had been diagnosed three years before and had recently been given the pump to help regulate his blood sugar. The woman then launched into a dispiriting litany, how horrible diabetes was, that her son would surely lose a toe or his leg, would have to suffer pricking his finger for blood test the rest of his life, that he would go through life being stigmatized for having the disease.
Both Janine and the woman she spoke to were told of the complications that might accompany the disease by their doctors. Unfortunately she was ignoring a crucial piece of information; her son could lead a healthy active life if he monitored what he ate and kept a careful record of his blood glucose levels. Yes, there is a risk of developing complications, but the idea that a child who has diabetes will definitely develop complications from the disease is wrong.
Below are several guides for parents whose children have been diagnosed with diabetes. The information will help you plan a healthy, active lifestyle for your diabetic child.
Print Resources
A Child in Your Care Has Diabetes [Hen House Press,2005] This book by Elisa Hendel does double duty as an organizer; it includes pages for recording blood glucose readings as well as providing guides for different school situations including field trips and class parties. The third edition also has information on insulin pumps. A Child is available directly from the Hen House Press website or Amazon.com.
Caring for Children with Diabetes [American Diabetes Association,1990]
A crucial task for a parent with a diabetic child is educating child care professionals and teachers about his child’s diabetes. This book, by Belinda Childs, is an excellent resource for parents of school-aged children. The guide, intended for teachers and education professionals, explains diabetes, appropriate foods and how to handle hypoglycemia.
Diabetes Care for Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers [John Wiley and Sons,2005]
Parents of very young diabetic children can have a more difficult time in discerning their children's needs. This guide by Jean Betschart covers how to manage diabetes care and issues that may arise with caregivers of young children with diabetes.
Online Resources includes a comprehensive book list that covers everything from toddlers with diabetes, first person accounts by diabetics, to medical issues and discoveries. The American Diabetes Association website includes sections for parents with diabetic children and those recently diagnosed with diabetes.
Children with Diabetes
A child with diabetes can be healthy and happy. With proper glucose and diet monitoring as well as support from parents, friends and teachers, children can grow up to become well-adjusted adults and educators in their own right, and dispel myths about the disease.
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