Contents:
- Medical Video: Cedars-Sinai - Summertime Tips for Kids with Type 1 Diabetes
- So, what needs to be prepared when it comes to managing childhood diabetes at school age?
- Give understanding to your child
- Communication between parents and the school
- Ensuring your child's needs
Medical Video: Cedars-Sinai - Summertime Tips for Kids with Type 1 Diabetes
You might have thought that diabetes or diabetes is a disease of the elderly. Understandably, this disease was often identified in adults. Most of them will get type two diabetes. However, did you know that diabetes in school-age children is now increasingly common?
Diabetes has two types, namely type 1 diabetes mellitus and type two diabetes. The most common is type two diabetes. Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM) usually results from an unhealthy lifestyle. That is, type two DM can actually be prevented if we maintain a healthy lifestyle and remain physically active.
Type 1 diabetes mellitus is a type of diabetes that is less common. This type of diabetes is usually found first in childhood, so diabetes is also called childhood diabetes. The reason is not because of the wrong diet, but because of damage to the beta cells in the pancreas which is responsible for producing insulin, a hormone that functions to regulate blood sugar levels.
Although the type of childhood diabetes that is more commonly found in children is type one diabetes, in fact the percentage of type 1 diabetes in children in Indonesia is relatively small. According to Prof. Dr. Dr. Ketut Suastika, SpPD-KEMD, chairman of PB PERKENI (Indonesian Endocrinology Association) who was met at the signing of the MOU Cities Changing Diabetes between the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government and PT Novo Nordisk Indonesia in DKI Jakarta City Hall, currently diabetic children may not because of type 1 diabetes.
"Right now, obesity in children often causes type two diabetes, no longer a type one. Type 1 DM is actually a very small percentage, just under 10 percent. If a new person at the age of 40 is identified with diabetes, now even a teenager can get diabetes, "said Prof. Dr. Dr. Ketut Suastika, SpPD-KEMD.
Still according to PB Chairman Perkeni, child diabetes, aka DM type one usually starts to be found in children aged five years, but there are also those from birth. Type 1 diabetes is also known to be found in children aged 10-14 years. Given that children at risk of developing diabetes are in school age, this is certainly a concern for parents who have children with diabetes. Snacks in school canteens, tight schedules, and not allowing parents to accompany their children bring their own challenges in managing childhood diabetes at school age.
So, what needs to be prepared when it comes to managing childhood diabetes at school age?
Give understanding to your child
When having a child with diabetes sitting in school, the first and foremost thing parents must do to realize good diabetes management in school is to provide understanding to the child. Setting up everything he needs without the child knowing why he should do it will be a waste. Give your child an understanding of the diabetes he is suffering from. Don't give the exact explanation your doctor gave you because it will make him confused.
You can explain it in a language that is easy to understand. Provide your child with as much knowledge of diabetes as possible, but still remember to adjust it to the age of your child. You can explain it by giving a variety of specific case examples that your child might encounter while at school. That way, your child can find out what steps he should do when dealing with certain conditions related to diabetes he has.
Communication between parents and the school
Schools have various kinds of regulations that must be obeyed. However, that does not mean the regulation is absolute and cannot be contested. It's best to have a meeting between parents, the child, and the school to discuss your child's planned diabetes management plan.
Make sure the teacher and school know what your child needs. As a parent, you should also equip teachers in schools with knowledge about diabetes so that they understand the treatment that should be given in an emergency. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends that you provide complete information, including symptoms of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia.
Keep your communication with the school, especially your child's teacher. The teacher is an extension of your hands in the school to ensure that your child's diabetes management plan goes well. It is better, you also provide information about diabetes as completely as possible to the smallest things, such as symptoms caused (for example, frequent urination) to the school. That way, the school will understand what habits are common in children with diabetes.
However, that must be reminded, do not be too special in treating children with diabetes. That can affect his psychological condition. Look naturally but remain alert to their needs. Don't forget to give important contact numbers that the school can contact in case of an emergency.
Ensuring your child's needs
It has become the instinct of parents to provide all their children's needs. Someone with diabetes is certainly susceptible to the risk of hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia if it is not properly treated. School children may be more vulnerable to the risk of hypoglycemia. This is reasonable considering that school-age children are usually very active in playing with their peers, even to the point of forgetting so that it may be that they are doing excessive activities. Make sure you always equip your child with foods or drinks that contain glucose as a help in hypoglycemia, such as glucose tablets (or candy) or two boxes of juice that contain up to 15 grams of carbohydrates.
Preparing supplies can also be a good way to ensure your child's nutrition is in accordance with the diet plan you have made. By bringing it stock, you can find out and control the intake of carbohydrates and sugars that enter the body. You may also be able to provide snacks that are safe for children with diabetes.
A child with diabetes may need to check blood sugar or inject insulin when they are in school. Now, several international schools have provided professional nurses on guard at the school clinic. You can provide them with the necessary equipment, such as insulin or a blood sugar check tool for them to help carry out the diabetes management plan that you have made. If no nurse is available, make sure you and the school (teacher) have an agreement on how this will be done.
In Indonesia alone, school policies that contribute to reducing the rate of diabetes in Indonesia have not been practiced uniformly. In fact, if this can be applied in schools, it is not impossible that the number of diabetes in Indonesia can be reduced. This effort has been made by schools in Copenhagen, one of the cities participating in the Cities Changing Diabetes program. According to Frederik Kier, AAMEO Senior Vice President (Africa, Asia, Middle East & Oceania), Novo Nordisk, the school has banned the circulation of food and beverages with high sugar content in schools.
