Innocence is a Luxury for a Diabetic Child

If innocence is a luxury, then ignorance is a risk and knowledge is power: The power to lead a normal or near normal life. The thrust of all this literature is to minimize the risk of diabetes and children who know about it are better equipped to deal with it.

Questions

What happens to food after it goes into the mouth? Where does it vanish? What does it do?

Why is it not doing it in my body? Why is my body different?

These questions related to digestive activity need to be creatively addressed depending on the child that needs to know. The questions may be the same, but the variable is the age of the children. Diabetes strikes at any age and does not spare children. Diabetes knowledge needs the co-operation of the school and parents.

The above questions will be answered differently depending on whether the child is 3, 5 7, or 13. The fundamental point is the same, the 3 year old needs to be as aware of the answers as the 13. The educators and care givers have a challenge even with normal children, with diabetes and children it is an onerous task.

Diabetes and Children (5yrs)

In the case of children below 5 years the responsibility falls on the parents and care givers to monitor and deliver the necessary medications. From the school going stage, however, the strategy needs to alter.

The child needs to be made aware:

Why he is carrying some extra gadget with him

How he needs to use it

What happens if he does NOT use it

His teacher needs to know he has this gadget

And the first 3 points, as much as the child.

With the routine life of children the timely delivery of insulin can be planned. With the cooperation of the children diabetes can be controlled even at this young age.

Diabetes and Children (5-10yrs)

The insatiable curiosity, abundant enthusiasm and yearning for excitement can be used diligently to increase awareness of the children. Diabetes facts can be dispensed with the help of ready literature provided by many agencies. Participation in outreach programs, such as walks and rides can satiate the excitement of the children. Diabetes awareness increased.

Diabetes and Children (10yrs and above)

Children diagnosed with diabetes at this age are better able to understand and adapt and those living with this ailment for several years would be comfortable with monitoring and medication. The only drawback would be the cocktail of pheromones and feelings that need to be dealt with effectively. In Diabetic Camps they are with similar children. Diabetes being the common feature; diabetes and children come together on a common platform and in non-threatening friendly environment they can share feelings without embarrassment or shame. Enough knowledgeable support staff is on hand to help with queries and/or fears if any.

The diabetic children of today are fortunate because the knowledge bank is enormous and technological innovations make managing the disease easier; but mainly because research promises a cure within their lifetimes.