Care for children with diabetes: When to take it to the doctor immediately

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Medical Video: How to Care for Your Child's Condition : How to Diagnose Diabetes in Infants

Does your child have type 1 or type 2 diabetes? This diabetes management plan provides a series of instructions on what to do when a child is sick, injured, or has other problems related to diabetes. Who you have to ask for help will depend on several factors, such as the symptoms and difficulties of the problem.

Like most medical problems, you should first contact a doctor who is used to dealing with your child, such as a pediatrician or family doctor. In most cases, your doctor may direct you to another diabetes health team, such as a certified endocrine doctor, nurse, or diabetes expert educator.

If you face an emergency situation, call 112 or take your child to the Emergency Unit (ER). But at first, give emergency treatment as instructed to you, for example giving glucagon injections to deal with abnormal blood sugar reactions, before calling a doctor or hurrying to the Emergency Unit (ER).

What should be notified of the medical team

When you need medical care, the medical team may ask the following questions about your child:

  • Symptoms
  • Blood glucose level
  • Urine level
  • Body temperature
  • Food and fluids consumed lately
  • Treatment is being done
  • Your pediatrician's contact number

Prepare the information above in case there is an emergency.

If your child is sick or injured

If your child is sick (especially with fever, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea) or has problems eating and drinking, contact your doctor. Tell your doctor and other medical team if your child:

  • Has significant wounds (not just small incisions, scratches or bumps)
  • Requires surgery (especially if it interferes with eating or involves pain medication or sedation)
  • Recently prescribed new treatments (some of which can have an impact on glucose levels)

If your child has diabetes problems such as hyperglycemia, ketoacidosis, or hypoglycemia, there are other things that also need attention.

Hyperglycemia

Is when blood sugar levels are too high. Your child can have this for several reasons, such as not receiving enough insulin intake; eat or drink high sugar content or high carbohydrate foods; or if you are sick, injured, or physically or mentally stressed.

Contact a doctor if:

  • Blood sugar levels are higher than the target set by the diabetes team, especially if your child has symptoms of high blood sugar, such as increased thirst and urination
  • In addition to high blood sugar levels, your child has ketones in the urine, a sign of diabetic ketoacidosis

Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA)

The high level of ketones caused by more acidic blood, is a condition known as diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).Ketoacidosis is a severe condition, endangers lives, and must be treated quickly.

In most cases, DKA occurs when a person with diabetes does not get enough insulin intake (so blood sugar levels are also high) or worsened by illness or injury. When the body cannot use glucose as a burner, it destroys fat to become energy. When fat is destroyed, the body produces chemical compounds called ketones, which appear in the blood and urine.

Seek medical help as soon as possible if your child has ketones in the urine and other symptoms of ketoacidosis such as:

  • Pain in the abdomen
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Heavy or fast breathing and irregularity
  • Extreme dizziness or loss of consciousness

Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia is when glucose levels in blood sugar are too low. Many diabetics who experience hypoglycemia (also called low blood sugar) if they don't eat enough, if they take medications that reduce glucose levels (such as insulin), or if they exercise harder than usual.

You should suspect hypoglycemia if the child:

  • Feeling very hungry
  • Trembling
  • Sweating
  • Weak
  • Dizzy

If possible, do a blood sugar test to confirm whether the symptoms are related to low blood sugar. If you cannot do the test immediately, do not delay or ignore the symptoms of your child. You can always check blood sugar after the levels are back to normal. Be sure to handle your child's hypoglycemia beforehand before contacting a doctor.

Give your child glucagon injections immediately (according to the doctor's instructions) if your child has symptoms of severe hypoglycemia, such as:

  • Confusion
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Sudden attack

Try to give your child food or drinks that contain high sugar, or glucose tablets. After getting glucagon injections for low blood sugar levels, the child must be able to get up in 10 to 15 minutes and must be able to eat or consume glucose tablets to help prevent his blood sugar from falling again. If your child does not respond to glucagon injections, contact 911.

You should contact your doctor or diabetes team if:

  • Your child has severe low blood sugar (even after treatment)
  • Your child has more and more unexplained hypoglycemia attacks

If your child has a problem with hypoglycemia, contact the diabetes management team and discuss whether changes in the treatment method are needed or not.

Behavior and emotional problems

Some psychological or social problems require medical attention because they can have a serious impact on a child's mental health and can affect the management of childhood diabetes.

Contact your doctor if your child has symptoms of depression or other symptoms of mental disorders, such as:

  • Continual sadness
  • Lack of energy
  • Angry, offended, or worried
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Changes in diet or sleep
  • Often suicidal thoughts arise

Contact your doctor if you think your child might abuse drugs or alcohol or:

  • Seclusion, depression, or fatigue
  • Hostile and cannot be invited to cooperate
  • Leaving his friends
  • Loss of taste or drastically changing appearance
  • Losing appetite in hobbies, sports, or other favorite activities
  • Change your diet and sleep patterns

It is important to let your doctor or diabetes professional know if you suspect your child is not adjusting to the lifestyle of diabetics. For example, not eating or not taking medicine at school. You don't have to handle these problems alone. In fact, for your child's health, it is important to share this information with your doctor.

When you are not there

What if your child needs medical help when you are not there? To prepare your child and caregivers:

  • Make sure your child always uses a medical identification bracelet or necklace that identifies his condition
  • Make sure your child carries testing equipment, and your contact number and doctor whenever he is out of your reach
  • Make sure your child knows that he is allowed to contact 112 for emergency calls related to health problems
  • Make sure all teachers and nurses (such as babysitters, parents of friends, school staff, etc.) know how to deal with diabetes problems. Give them written instructions about what they should do in an emergency

If you have prepared yourself, your child, and all who take care of it, you will feel more confident that all diseases or diabetes can be dealt with effectively.

Care for children with diabetes: When to take it to the doctor immediately
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