Empowering Kids with Type 1 Diabetes: A family's guide to thriving
New care tools and continuous monitoring support children to live full lives with diabetes
When a child is diagnosed with diabetes, it can feel overwhelming for parents, as everyday routines suddenly revolve around blood sugar checks, meal plans, and doctor visits. It’s natural to worry and wonder how your child will cope. But with the right care, support, and understanding, kids with diabetes can lead active lives.
It’s important to work together as a family – understanding the condition, staying consistent with care, and helping your child feel strong and supported every step of the way.
Type 1 diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes, happens when the body stops making insulin ¬ the hormone that helps control blood sugar. Since insulin is essential for turning food into energy, children with this condition need daily insulin shots or a pump to stay healthy. It’s not caused by lifestyle or diet, and it can’t be prevented, but with proper management, regular monitoring, and a balanced routine, they can thrive just like any other child.
Doctors advise to keep an eye out on the symptoms for diabetes. “Some of the early signs and symptoms include weight loss, increased thirst, increased frequency of urination, or a new onset of bed-wetting,” says Dr Maha Elsheikh Elhassan, Consultant Paediatric Endocrinology, Burjeel Hospital, Abu Dhabi.
She adds that recognising these changes early can make a crucial difference.
Other early clues include frequent infections like skin boils or thrush, tummy pain or vomiting, and a sweet or fruity smell on the breath, warning signs that acids called ketones may be building up, says Dr Kingini Bhadran, Specialist Endocrinology, Aster Clinic, Qusais (Damascus Street).
“You might also notice mood changes or trouble concentrating. In babies and toddlers, look for poor weight gain, persistent diaper rash, or signs of dehydration. If any of these ring true, don’t wait, ask for a quick finger-prick blood sugar test the same day. One simple test in a child with unexplained weight loss or constant thirst can prevent a dangerous emergency called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and get the treatment started safely and early,” Dr Bhadran says.
Treatment and management
Over the years, diabetes care for children has evolved tremendously, making management more precise and flexible. Dr Sandip Ghosh, Consultant – Endocrinology at Zulekha Hospital Sharjah, explains that adolescence remains one of the toughest stages for diabetes control.
“HbA1c levels are known to be highest in young people aged 13–17 years. Diabetes self-management is particularly challenging in this age group due to a variety of factors, including peer group influences, importance of body image, less parental oversight, greater risk-taking, and fear of hypoglycaemia, leading to higher levels of diabetes distress.”
To support young patients better, technology now plays a crucial role in simplifying day-to-day management. “To help with the challenges in adolescent diabetes care, real time monitoring of blood glucose levels are now possible and widely available, and insulin pumps can offer more precise and flexible insulin dosing compared to multiple daily injections (MDI),” says Dr Ghosh.
Building on this, Dr Bhadran points out that the latest diabetes technologies have made a world of difference for children and teenagers learning to manage their condition. “Modern pumps allow programmable basal rates, bolus calculators, and remote control via smartphone apps.”
She highlights that these innovations are making life less restrictive for young patients. “Hybrid closed-loop systems (artificial pancreas) now integrate continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) data with automated insulin dosing, maintaining near-physiologic glucose levels and reducing hypoglycaemia risk,” she explains. “Meanwhile, patch pumps (tubeless devices) improve convenience and adherence.”
Continuous glucose monitoring has emerged as another significant step forward in diabetes care. “Through continuous glucose monitoring, we can measure glucose levels every few minutes, providing trend data, real-time alerts, and time-in-range metrics. Parents and clinicians can remotely monitor readings, enabling early intervention for hypo- or hyperglycaemia,” says Dr Bhadran, adding, “The combination of CGM and insulin pump has significantly improved HbA1c outcomes and reduced episodes of severe hypoglycaemia.”
Dr Bhadran points out that technology has also made diabetes care more collaborative and accessible. “Smartphone apps now assist with carbohydrate counting, bolus timing, and insulin titration, while cloud-based data sharing allows paediatric diabetes teams to offer virtual reviews and tele-coaching, ensuring continuous support even between clinic visits.”
Besides technology, lifestyle, nutrition, and emotional support continue to play a vital role in managing diabetes effectively. As Dr Ghosh explains, “Lifestyle interventions and nutrition remain central to the effective management of type 1 diabetes, helping improve long-term health outcomes. They play an important role in reducing blood glucose fluctuations and enabling children with type 1 diabetes to lead lives similar to their peers — without the fear of hypoglycaemia, which can often be a major concern when trying to maintain good blood glucose control.”
Emotional well-being is just as important in managing type 1 diabetes. “Psychological and behavioural interventions have also shown to promote adherence to the complex and demanding diabetes care regimen, with the goals of promoting high quality of life, achieving optimal glycemic control, and ultimately preventing disease-related complications,” says Dr Ghosh.
At Zulekha Hospital, this holistic approach extends beyond the child to include families and schools. “We have a dedicated diabetes educator who supports our young patients and connects with different members of the multidisciplinary team, including families and schools, to provide the best possible evidence-based care,” he adds.
The types you should be aware of
When people talk about diabetes, they often think it’s just one condition, but it actually comes in a few different types, and knowing which one you’re dealing with makes all the difference.
Type 1 diabetes usually shows up early in life. It happens when the body stops making insulin, so people with this type usually need daily insulin to avoid health complications.
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form and often develops later on. Here, the body still makes insulin but doesn’t use it properly. With lifestyle changes, eating better, staying active, and managing weight, it can often be controlled.
Then there’s gestational diabetes, which can appear during pregnancy. It usually goes away after the baby is born, but it’s a sign to watch your health closely later on, since it can raise your risk of type 2 diabetes down the line.
And don’t forget about prediabetes. This is your body’s early warning signal. Your blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be called diabetes yet. This stage is reversible with a few healthy tweaks, like eating right, moving more, and keeping your weight in check.
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