This content does childrren have an English version. Teach adult Weight management tips Artificial sweeteners for beverages, caregivers, and school staff the signs Artificial sweeteners for beverages sgar, when and how to give glucagon, and when to get emergency medical care. Glucose is an essential source of energy for the body. Hyperglycemia is a blood sugar level above your child's target range. There are several rare disorders in which hypoglycemia is recurrent and potentially life-threatening.

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Blood Sugar Regulation - Pancreas, Liver, Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes

Blood sugar regulation in children -

In addition to monitoring blood glucose with finger sticks, many people with diabetes elect to utilize continuous glucose monitors CGM to monitor glucose levels and trends. A CGM monitors glucose levels throughout the day and night as well as lets you know the direction or trend your glucose is going.

Most CGMs have alarms to let you know if the glucose is too high or too low. Blood glucose testing with a meter may still be necessary at times to make sure your CGM is working correctly.

Glucose levels change during the day and night depending on what your child eats, how much insulin or medicine you have given them, and other factors such as exercise, stress, illness and growth. By effectively monitoring blood glucose levels and reviewing trends, you will better understand:.

Your child can still have sweet snacks, but you must make adjustments to allow for it. Like all carbohydrates, sugar raises blood glucose levels.

When sugar, such as juice or candy, is eaten without any other food, blood glucose rises very quickly. If sugar is eaten with a meal that also contains fat and protein, blood glucose rises slower.

An occasional sweet treat is fine if insulin doses are adjusted to allow for the sugar content and the treat is eaten with a meal. However, most kids should not substitute a high-sugar treat for a complex carbohydrate like bread, pasta or vegetables. Andrew Muir, MD , is a board certified physician in pediatric endocrinology.

Muir earned his medical degree at the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine, and completed his residency at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. He then completed a fellowship in pediatric endocrinology at the Washington University School of Medicine in St.

Louis, Missouri, and then worked as a clinical research fellow at the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville. His research aims to understand the causes and effects of diabetes in children, and he has published numerous articles and authored or co-authored book chapters.

This content is general information and is not specific medical advice. Always consult with a doctor or healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns about the health of a child. In case of an urgent concern or emergency, call or go to the nearest emergency department right away.

Contact Us KIDS Home Parent Resources Resources for Diabetes in Kids Checking Blood Glucose in Kids. Hormones: As your child grows and develops, insulin needs often increase.

This is due to chemicals in the body called hormones. Insulin needs will increase when hormone levels are high, like during the teen years.

Illness: Illness can increase blood glucose and make insulin less effective, putting your child at risk for ketones. What factors lower blood sugar levels? They may play a sport in the spring and fall, but not during the winter.

This affects how much energy they burn and changes how much insulin they need. When your child is more active, they usually need less insulin. When your child is less active, they usually need more insulin. Insulin and diabetes medicines: Insulin and other diabetes medicines lower blood glucose.

How do you check your child's blood glucose? Wash hands with warm soap and water and dry thoroughly. It can dry out the skin on their fingertips. Put test strip into the meter. Collect a small blood sample. Prick the side of their finger and apply pressure to form a drop of blood. Wait for finger prompt on meter and then engage the needle to take blood.

Touch the edge of the strip to the drop of blood. Be sure you get the right amount. Not putting enough blood on a strip can cause an incorrect reading or error code.

But very low blood sugar levels can cause severe symptoms that need medical treatment right away. Teach your child about the symptoms of low blood sugar and what to do. Even young kids who can't describe their symptoms can learn to tell an adult when they don't feel well.

And explain how to find an adult who can help them. Some people with diabetes can't sense the early warning signs of low blood sugar. They may not recognize they need quick treatment. This can lead to more serious symptoms as blood sugar levels continue to fall.

Hypoglycemia can happen for different reasons. Anyone with diabetes can get low blood sugar, even people who follow their care plan carefully.

Sugar levels can drop if your child:. The only way to know for sure if someone has low blood sugar is to test their blood. If you think your child has hypoglycemia, test it if you can. When blood sugar levels are low, the goal is to get them back up into the healthy range quickly.

Here are the basic steps to follow if your child is alert and awake:. Then call Do not give anything by mouth until they are awake and alert.

After getting glucagon, your child will be more alert and feel better within 15 minutes. When your child is alert enough to eat, give sugary food or drink to help prevent their blood sugar from falling again. An episode of severe low blood sugar could be a sign that the diabetes care plan needs to be changed.

Call your diabetes team if your child is having frequent low blood sugars. Their diabetes plan may need to be adjusted to help prevent future episodes. Nearly every child with diabetes will have an episode of mild hypoglycemia at times.

Rarely, an episode will be a serious emergency. You can help make this less likely, and be ready if it does happen. Here are some tips:. If you have questions about how to prevent or treat hypoglycemia, or about the diabetes care plan, call your child's diabetes health care team. KidsHealth Parents Hypoglycemia and Diabetes.

en español: La hipoglucemia y la diabetes. Medically reviewed by: Tal Grunwald, MD. Listen Play Stop Volume mp3 Settings Close Player.

Hemoglobin Im is a blood test that measures the average blood glucose over the past Best antioxidant sources months. It is measured as a percentage. A higher A1c regulatikn blood Artificial sweeteners for beverages has sutar consistently higher over those three months. A1c is a useful tool for monitoring risk for complications related to diabetes. Long-term high blood glucose is related to negative effects on brain function, brain structure, and brain development in children and teens with diabetes. Your A1c will be checked with each clinic visit with a fingerstick, with your labs, or with an at-home testing kit.