UAE: Doctors advise parents on how to care for children with diabetes – News

Children with underlying health problems need some extra care to keep them comfortable and safe in another house

A new school year brings new friendships, which means new faces when throwing your child’s next birthday party, sleepover, or playtime.

Caring for a child other than yourself is always a big responsibility, and it’s important to understand that children with underlying health conditions such as diabetes need extra care to keep them comfortable and safe.

When it comes to caring for a child with diabetes, parents may be the best source of information, says Dr Sherif El-Refee, clinical head of paediatric services at the Diabetes Centre at Imperial College London and consultant paediatrician in endocrinology and diabetes.

When welcoming a child with diabetes to your home, medical experts give the following tips to keep in mind:

1. Align with parents’ existing practices and protocols regarding emergencies

Since every case is different, it is important to contact the child’s parents to learn about their unique circumstances. Parents will give you important information about their children and some tips you need to keep in mind.

Make sure to ask about your child’s insulin routine and familiarize yourself with any emergency procedures, as they can be critical in severe cases.

For some children, regularly recording their blood sugar levels is a daily activity. This is usually done by using a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) or traditional finger phlebotomy. Usually, kids will be familiar with checking their blood sugar levels, but it might be a good idea to remind them if necessary.

Some CGMs can connect to a parent’s cell phone, providing continuous access to information about the child’s blood sugar levels. If this is the case, contact the child’s parents and ask them to let you know if the child needs help.

2. Avoid excessive sun exposure

In general, protection from summer heat is very important, and children with diabetes are no exception, because excessive sunlight and high temperatures can raise blood sugar levels.

If your child is playing outdoors, encourage play in the shade. Pay attention to the hottest times of the day and make sure to apply sunscreen frequently. Keep them well hydrated by drinking water regularly and encourage them to wear protective clothing and hats.

3. Offer healthy food and snacks

Eating a healthy diet makes it easier to control blood sugar because anything your child eats affects their blood sugar levels almost immediately. Fruits like oranges, raspberries, avocados, apples, watermelon, and blackberries are great options for storage.

However, that doesn’t mean kids should be restricted from eating sweets – you’re throwing a fun party after all! It’s okay to indulge in weird sweets or desserts as long as your blood sugar levels stay within a healthy range; just check to see if you need extra insulin to handle the treatment.

Another medical expert, Dr Tawfik Muammar, Consultant Paediatric Diabetes Specialist at the Diabetes Centre at Imperial College London, stressed the importance of physical activity and maintaining open lines of communication to ensure a child’s comfort. He recommends that parents do the following:

1. Encourage physical activity

The benefits of exercise cannot be underestimated, especially for people with diabetes. It can help lower blood sugar levels and increase the body’s sensitivity to insulin, helping to fight insulin resistance.

First, check with parents about their child’s ability to do physical activity to make sure they’re not pushing their limits. If your child is exercising on their own, make sure to monitor carbohydrate intake and insulin and adjust if necessary.

Given the hot weather, it’s a good idea to encourage kids to engage in some fun indoor physical activity. This can be playing hide and seek, tagging, dancing, or even a fun game of Twister.

2. Make sure your child feels comfortable highlighting any issues

There are many things you can do to keep your child safe, but it is important to create an open and welcoming environment for your child to raise any issues they may face.

This may involve you reaching out to them regularly, encouraging and praising them, listening and being present when they speak.

At the end of the day, a kids party should be a fun experience for everyone. If you have questions about what to do, don’t hesitate to call your child’s parent or carer for more advice.

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– ismail@khaleejtimes.com