Well-controlled blood sugars help children with diabetes grow and develop normally. Your doctor will help you figure out what levels are right for your child, since targets change as kids get older. Test your child's blood sugar several times a day so you'll know what you need to do to adjust it.
Your goal is simple: Get it into the target range when it isn't. What causes ups and downs?
- Food
- Exercise
- Growth and hormones
- Illness
- Stress and other emotions
- Medication
No one expects a growing child's blood sugar levels to be normal all the time. And when your child enters puberty, their hormones could cause problems with blood sugars changing wildly.
Remember, the numbers on the meter aren't "good" or "bad" -- they're just numbers. They give you information about how to keep your child healthy. Since you or your child might not notice symptoms, testing is the best way to avoid dangerously high and low levels.
Help kids learn to manage their diabetes on their own. Encourage good habits. Praise your child when they test, regardless of the result. Don't let them feel bad or blame them when their levels are out of range. Offer support to get them back on track.