Type 1 and the upcoming New Year

Last week as we approached midnight we all made some sort of resolution. You may have kept the resolution quiet but it is still there lingering in the back of your mind. It may to be more organized, be in better shape, eat healthier, or simply not to make a resolution. How do your resolutions apply to helping your child with his/her diabetes? Is it to learn a new skill? to improve on an A1C? to encourage and actually get your child to camp? To not be a helicopter parent as much? So no matter what your personal diabetes related resolution is I have included a list of things that may help ease the daily diabetes burden in your lives.

          Things you can do:

1)Make a resolution to download that CGM to get quality data at least once a month. This will help with A1C management and improved glucose control.

2) Keep a food diary quarterly with sugars and carbohydrate counts to determine if your child’s insulin sensitivity is correct. Some foods cause spikes in blood sugars and may require a dual wave or increased insulin to combat the high. Alternatively some foods may not need as much insulin because your child uses those foods better.

3) Try to have your child eat at schedule times. Fore example breakfast at 8 a.m., lunch at 12 p.m., and dinner at 6 p.m.. In our house I limit food intake to every two hours so my son does not stack his insulin.

I hope these guidelines find you and your child well in the new year. Check out our book for more tips on when you are not with your child and another adult is caring for your child.

Stacey Smith-Bradfield