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How To Check Toddler Blood Sugar

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Can Type 1 Diabetes Can Be Diagnosed With A Single Finger Stick Blood Glucose Test

Diabetes in children (3 of 9): Blood glucose monitoring

Type 1 diabetes can be diagnosed with a single finger- stick blood glucose test if the proper technique is followed. Scrupulously clean hands washed and thoroughly dried. The diagnostic criteria for diabetes in adults and children is a random sample blood glucose concentration over 11.1 mmol/L. If the symptoms are suggestive of diabetes then this must be ruled out. Children and young people should NOT wait for fasting blood glucose tests. The finger sticks capillary test will be confirmed with a lab test of the blood glucose once the child arrives at the hospital.

A child or young people with a high blood glucose level should be referred promptly on the same day to secondary care.

Is There Any Way To Treat Diabetes In Toddlers

If the diagnosis comes back positive for diabetes, treatment can begin immediately.

Your child may be assigned a diabetes treatment teamâincluding a doctor, dietitian, and diabetes educatorâwho will work closely with you to help keep your toddlerâs blood sugar level as normal as possible.

Although there is no cure for diabetes, with treatment and consistent care your little one can go on to have a normal life. Treatment depends on whether your toddler has type 1 or type 2 diabetes, but the treatment plan may include:

  • Blood sugar monitoring. You will need to check your toddlerâs blood sugar levels frequently, at least 4 times a day for type 1. Testing helps you make sure your little oneâs blood sugar levels are within the target range. Your healthcare provider will tell you what this range should be, as this will change as your child grows.

  • Taking insulin. If your toddler has type 1 diabetes, then life-long treatment with insulin will be necessary. Some cases of type 2 diabetes also require insulin. Insulin is often given as an injection but is sometimes administered through a pump. Your toddlerâs healthcare provider will show you how to give injections or use the pump, and when your child grows old enough the provider will be able to show her how to do it for herself.

The Importance Of Checking Blood Sugar Levels

Besides helping to keep blood sugar levels under control, checking them according to the diabetes management plan will help you and your child:

  • feel more aware and in control of what is happening with your child’s diabetes
  • prevent short-term diabetes symptoms and future health problems
  • troubleshoot problems and make changes to the diabetes management plan promptly and effectively
  • better understand of the impact of food, exercise, and medicines on blood sugar levels

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People with kind 1 diabetes have a pancreas that doesn t make insulin People with kind 2 diabetes have cells in the body which may be proof against insulin or have a pancreas Alternative to sticking patient for blood sugar that slows or What Is The Normal Blood Sugar Level stops producing adequate insulin levels Both types of diabetes may end up in abnormal glucose levels Type 2 diabetes sort 2 diabetes is a extra common Whats the normal for blood sugar condition and is less extreme Strengths And Weaknesses Of This Study than kind 1 People with sort 2 diabetes simply means the physique does Tracking blood sugar levels not use insulin correctly, versus lacking it The pancreas Low Blood Sugar tries to create extra insulin for the glucose Normal Blood Sugar to make Weight Loss And Sleep use of, but the body does not reply to it Normal Blood Sugar Level properly, referred to as insulin resistance.

For How Long Might Blood Glucose Checks Or Additional Treatment Be Required

Blood Sugar Testing, Child Finger Lancet Punctures Stock Photo

Blood glucose levels in babies usually become normal within 12 hours to 72 hours of birth, especially once a regular feeding pattern is established. The risk of low blood glucose is greatest in the first 12 hours of life in large-for-dates and full-term babies, and up to 36 hours of life in small-for-dates and preterm babies.

It is rare for babies to continue to have difficulty maintaining their blood glucose levels. If this happens beyond 24 hours, speak with your babys doctor.

For more information on your babys growth and development, visit < www.caringforkids.cps.ca> .

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How To Stay In Target

Eating healthy, exercising and taking medication, if necessary, will help you keep your blood sugar levels within their target range. Target ranges for blood sugar can vary depending on your age, medical condition and other risk factors.

Targets are different for pregnant women, older adults and children 12 years of age and under.

When To Check Kids Blood Sugar

These are the best times to test your childs blood sugar level:

If there is any reason to suspect that they have an unusually low blood sugar level

When he or she is ill

Before and after they exercise

Before meals

Before they go to bed

If the test results from before the meal do not match, test again two hours later

At night. This is especially important if their blood sugar level tested unusually low during the day, he or she was feeling ill, there was a change in their insulin dose, or they exercised more than on an average day. Sometimes your kid might need a blood sugar test in the middle of the night. This will, for example, be necessary if they regularly have hypoglycemia episodes. Children who have recently shown signs of diabetes might also need more regular tests. The same applies if your very young child showed symptoms of diabetes in toddlers.

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What Else Do I Need To Know

Some medicines can change the blood glucose level. Check with the doctor or pharmacist.

Put lancets in a puncture-proof container such as a sharps container, plastic detergent bottle, or coffee can. If your home care service does not collect full sharps containers from you, ask your waste collection company how to dispose of them.

Keep your glucose meter clean. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions about care of the meter and supplies.

Why Do Some Babies Have Low Blood Glucose

Measuring the blood glucose values for children with diabetes
  • In healthy full-term babies , blood glucose levels are at their lowest 1 to 2 hours after birth. After this, the levels usually start to rise as your babys body starts to use healthy sugar and fat stores.
  • Small and preterm babies may not have enough stores to keep the level up without extra feedings. These babies are most at risk for low blood glucose in the first 24 hours of life.
  • Babies whose mothers have diabetes may have trouble using their glucose stores. The normal rise in blood sugar that takes place after birth may not happen right away.
  • Babies who are large for their gestational age may have the same kind of problem during the first 12 hours of life.

Usually, low blood glucose levels will only last for a few hours, but can last up to 24-72 hours. Once your babys levels become normal, he shouldnt have further problems with hypoglycemia .

In very rare cases, low blood sugar can be severe or last a long time. If this happens, your doctor will do special tests to look for other causes.

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Recognizing Hypoglycemia: Symptoms To Look For

Early symptoms of hypoglycemia include:

  • Shaking
  • Stubborn behavior
  • Extreme sleepiness

If your childs blood sugar levels stay low and continue to drop, symptoms will get worse. This can lead to seizures or unconsciousness if not treated immediately.

If seizures or unconsciousness occur or if your child cannot safely swallow do not give them anything by mouth. You need to give them Glucagon or Baqsimi right away.

What’s A Blood Glucose Level Target

No – not that kind of target!!

A blood glucose level target is where we think your blood glucose levels should be, to keep you well. When you meet with your diabetes team, they may give you your own blood glucose level targets that have been worked out just for you.

Generally target ranges for blood glucose levels are:

  • before meals 4 to 7mmol/l

  • after meals 5 to 10mmol/l

  • at bedtime 6 to 10mmol/l

  • at 3am 5 to 8mmol/l

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What Causes Type 1 Diabetes

So where does T1D come from? Why might it happen to your child?

Scientists have confirmed that there is a genetic component to T1D, but its not entirely clear how the disease is passed down, and there are many other factors at play.

Type 1 diabetes does run in families and many newly diagnosed individuals already have a family member living with type 1 diabetes, says Wisconsin endocrinologist Pollock. If one parent has type 1 diabetes, a child has a 5 percent chance of developing type 1 diabetes, compared to a 40 percent chance in the case of type 2 diabetes.

There are several genetic changes that can be tested for that are known to be more common in individuals with type 1 diabetes, adds Pollock, but many of these mutations or variations can be found in individuals without the disease, too.

The leading theories suggest individuals with some known genetic variations are at risk for type 1 diabetes and these individuals then have some non-genetic, potentially environmental change that occurs and triggers the onset in someone already at-risk.

Potential environmental triggers that initiate the onset of T1D could include:

  • the flu or other serious illness
  • trauma, in the form of death of a loved one or divorce
  • dietary inflammation

While other family members may not have type 1 diabetes, they may have autoimmune diseases like hypothyroidism or Celiac disease, which indicates a genetic predisposition to developing an autoimmune disease.

The Difference Between Type 1 And Type 2 Diabetes

Should You Get Your Blood Sugar Checked?

To clarify, the key difference between the two main types of diabetes is that type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, whereas type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder.

In type 2 diabetes, blood sugar levels usually begin to rise very gradually and without ketones over the course of years before signs and symptoms become noticeable.

For some people, type 2 diabetes is the result of insulin resistance and can be reversed or managed through losing weight, improving diet, and getting regular physical activity.

However, approximately 60 percent of people develop type 2 diabetes because their bodies are struggling to produce healthy beta cells. These people will inevitably need diabetes medications, including insulin, to maintain healthy blood sugar levels.

In the past, type 2 was virtually unheard of among youth. Nowadays that is changing, partly due to poor diets and increasing obesity in Western countries. But type 1 diabetes, the autoimmune kind, remains the most common and highest-risk type to look out for in children.

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Detecting Type 1 Diabetes In Children

Type 1 diabetes can develop at any age, but the majority of newly diagnosed cases still develop during childhood, even in children less than one year old. The younger the child, the more difficult it is to understand their symptoms, simply because they cannot verbalize them to you.

Here is everything you need to know about detecting type 1 diabetes in children.

The Symptoms Of Diabetes In Children

As parents may not mention these symptoms a doctor must carefully draw out this information. Also, bedding wetting in a previously dry child can be one of the first symptoms in 89% of children over the age of 4 years. Recurrent infections can also be a presentation. Oral or genital thrush can be present.

If diabetic ketoacidosis has already occurred, the symptoms can include vomiting and abdominal pain deep sighing breathing called Kussmaul breathing and reduced levels of consciousness. All these symptoms can be misdiagnosed as acute asthma/pneumonia or possible gastroenteritis/appendicitis if the doctor is not aware of polyuria and polydipsia.

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Keep A Record Of Glucose Levels

How to do a blood glucose test

Keep a record of the glucose levels in a log book or download them into a computer programme on a regular basis. Depending on the treatment required, children and young people with type 2 diabetes may be able to monitor glucose levels less frequently. All children and young people with diabetes should keep a log book record of their glucose levels.

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Using A Blood Glucose Meter

Blood sugar level is measured with a blood glucose meter. A meter measures the amount of glucose in your childs blood. Youll use a device called a lancet to get a tiny drop of blood. Blood is most often taken from a fingertip. But you may be able to test on the arm or the heel of the hand. The drop of blood is placed on a small strip that goes into the meter. The meter then supplies a number that tells you the level of your childs blood sugar. There are several types of meters available. Your childs healthcare provider will help you select a meter that best suits your childs needs.

The Method Of Recording The Test Results

Recording the childs blood sugar results is very important. The doctor will use the childs record to see how frequently their blood sugar levels have been in a target range. This record also helps the doctor to determine if the childs insulin dose or other diabetes medicine needs to be adjusted and also how the childs medicine, food, and activities are affecting their blood sugar levels. Parents must carry this record along with them every time they visit the doctor. This helps a lot in managing diabetes in your child.

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How Is Type 1 Diabetes Treated

The goal of type 1 diabetes treatment is to control glucose levels and prevent your childs blood sugar from being too high. The ideal diabetes management regimen includes insulin therapy, glucose and ketones monitoring, regular exercise, and healthy eating.

Insulin therapy replaces insulin the body cannot make on its own. Usually, this is done with both long-acting and short-acting insulin injections. Many people with type 1 diabetes use insulin pumps instead of injections. Your diabetes team can teach you more about insulin pumps.

Glucose monitoring It is very important to monitor glucose levels throughout the day. You can do this with finger-stick blood glucose checks and/or with a continuous glucose monitor . CGM devices measure blood sugar with a subcutaneous glucose sensor and report a value every five minutes. Some devices can report values directly to a parent or patients mobile phone. The FDA has approved some CGM devices for use as a replacement for finger-stick tests.

Ketone monitoring When the body doesnt have enough insulin, the liver compensates by producing extra ketones, a chemical that converts fat into energy. High levels of ketones in the blood can become a medical emergency. Therefore, in addition to monitoring glucose levels, it is very important to monitor ketones when your childs glucose level is very high or when your child is sick.

How Can Parents Help

DIY steps to check blood sugar level

Nearly every child with diabetes will have an episode of hypoglycemia at times. You can help make this less likely, and be ready if it does happen. Here are some tips:

  • Follow your childs diabetes care plan. This is the best way to keep their sugars in a healthy range. The plan will guide you on the timing of:
  • meals
  • exercise
  • blood sugar checks
  • Have your child avoid baths or hot showers right before and after an insulin shot. Ask your care team how long your child should wait.
  • Track and adjust sugar levels before and during exercise. And make sure your child eats snacks as needed to keep or bring blood sugar levels into the healthy range.
  • Keep sugar handy and give it to your child right away if they have symptoms.
  • Teach adult family members, caregivers, and school staff the signs of hypoglycemia, when and how to give glucagon, and when to get emergency medical care.
  • Get your child a medical ID. Your child should wear or carry identification stating they have diabetes and includes who to contact in case of an emergency.
  • If you have questions about how to prevent or treat hypoglycemia, or about the diabetes care plan, call your child’s diabetes health care team.

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