Diabetes
Explore a wide range of resources to learn about treatment options, effective self-management, and other guidance to help your child manage their diabetes.
Explore diabetes care
Definition
Learn about the basics of diabetes, like blood sugar, lifestyle, medication, and monitoring.
Diagnosis
Diagnosing diabetes involves blood tests to measure glucose levels and assess other relevant indicators.
Management
Managing diabetes involves a balanced lifestyle, healthy diet, physical activity, monitoring, and medication adherence.
Related Conditions
Conditions related to diabetes include cardiovascular disease, neuropathy, and kidney disease.
Featured
Management
Back to School with Diabetes
When fall arrives, it's back-to-school time. And for some kids, it's back to dealing with diabetes in the classroom. Read on for some helpful tips.
Prevention
Lifestyle Changes Can Help Kids Prevent Type 2 Diabetes
Parents can do a lot to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes in their kids, even if the parents already have it.
Types of diabetes
Types
Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus in Children
Diabetes is a condition in which the body can't make enough insulin, or can't use insulin normally. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder. The body's immune system damages the cells in the pancreas that make insulin. Insulin is a hormone. It helps sugar (glucose) in the blood get into cells of the body to be used as fuel. When glucose can’t enter the cells, it builds up in the blood. This is called high blood sugar (hyperglycemia).
Types
Type 2 Diabetes in Children
Diabetes is a condition in which the body can't make enough insulin, or can't use insulin normally. Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder. Insulin is a hormone. It helps sugar (glucose) in the blood get into cells of the body to be used as fuel. When glucose can’t enter the cells, it builds up in the blood. This is called high blood sugar (hyperglycemia). High blood sugar can cause problems all over the body.
Types
Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that happens during pregnancy. The symptoms of gestational diabetes usually go away after delivery. But sometimes they do not, or you may develop type 2 diabetes later.
Managing diabetes
Diabetes guidance for kids
Management
For Kids: Food Facts When You Have Type 1 Diabetes
You may think that people with type 1 diabetes can't eat their favorite foods, but that's not true. You can still eat most of the same foods your friends eat. You just have to balance what you eat with insulin. Your health care team will help you.
Management
For Kids: Taking Your Insulin
Most people with diabetes are scared to give themselves insulin injections in the beginning. Even your parents were probably nervous giving you your first injections. But after a while, it became much easier.
Symptoms
For Kids: High Blood Sugar
Without glucose you wouldn't be able to study, play, or even eat or think. But if too much glucose builds up in your blood, you can feel sick. This is called high blood sugar (hyperglycemia). High blood sugar happens when you eat too much or don't take enough insulin.
Symptoms
For Kids: Low Blood Sugar
Without glucose you wouldn't be able to study, play, or even eat or think. Too little glucose can make you feel sick. This is called low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
