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ARTICLE

How to Support a Child with Type 1 Diabetes

Reviewed by Tama Porter, M.D.
December 19, 2024

If your child has been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed. But with the right care and support, kids with this condition can lead healthy, active lives.

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition that happens when the pancreas stops making insulin, a hormone that helps the body use sugar for energy. Without insulin, sugar builds up in the blood, which can be dangerous.

This condition is not caused by diet or lifestyle — it’s an autoimmune disease in which the body mistakenly attacks its own insulin-producing cells.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 18,000 children in the U.S. are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes every year, and around 304,000 young people under age 20 live with it.

Here’s what you can do to support your child in managing their type 1 diabetes.

Partner with Your Child’s Medical Team

The first step is to work with your child’s healthcare team to create a treatment plan. This plan will likely include:

  • Insulin therapy: Your child will need to take insulin through injections or a pump. The doctor will explain how much insulin your child needs and the timing of their doses.
  • Blood sugar monitoring: You’ll learn how to check your child’s blood sugar levels using a glucometer or a continuous glucose monitor (CGM).
  • Nutrition guidance: A dietitian can help you plan meals that balance carbohydrates, proteins, and fats to stabilize blood sugar levels.

Ask questions during your appointments, and don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s care team if you’re unsure about anything.

Understand Potential Complications

Type 1 diabetes requires daily management to avoid complications. It’s important to watch for these issues and know how to address them:

  • High blood sugar (hyperglycemia): can cause tiredness, thirst, and nausea. Check blood sugar levels often. Make sure your child takes their insulin as prescribed.

  • Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia): can lead to shakiness, confusion, or even unconsciousness. Keep glucose tablets or juice on hand. Your child should always have prescription glucagon with them, too, in case there’s an emergency and they can’t swallow tablets or juice.

  • Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA): is a dangerous condition where the body burns fat instead of sugar, producing harmful acids in the body. Seek emergency help if your child is vomiting, has fruity-smelling breath, has a change in consciousness, or is breathing heavily. Testing their blood or urine for ketones can help diagnose DKA.

You can expect your healthcare team to discuss strategies for avoiding or managing complications. Be sure to ask them any questions you have.

Support Your Child Emotionally

A type 1 diabetes diagnosis can feel scary and overwhelming for kids. They may fear needles, worry about being different, or feel frustrated about managing their health. As a parent, you can help. Here’s how to be there for emotional support:

  • Encourage open conversations about their feelings.
  • Help them connect with other kids who have type 1 diabetes through a local or online support group.
  • Remind them that they can still do everything they love, like play sports or go to parties, with a little extra planning.

A type 1 diabetes diagnosis changes life, but it doesn’t have to limit it. Take things one step at a time, educate yourself and your child, and lean on your medical team and community for support.

Over time, managing type 1 diabetes will become part of your routine, and your child will thrive.