Diabetes Federation of Ireland

Diabetes Federation of Ireland

A book for young children with diabetes Dr. S. O Riordan N. O Shaughnessy Professor D. Gill Children s Hospital, Temple Street Mr. K O Leary - Diabetes Federation of Ireland Mr. C. McGinley - Novo Nordisk Limited 1

What is Diabetes?? Diabetes means there is too much sugar in my blood, because I don t have enough Insulin. Insulin is made in Pete the Pancreas. When you have Diabetes Pete cannot make insulin. I must take Insulin each day to keep my blood sugars OK. 2

What I felt when I got diabetes? Thirsty Hungry I need to go the toilet a lot (wee-wee) I lose weight I feel tired a lot of the time 3

How Pete the Pancreas works in my body? The pancreas is an organ in my body, like my heart. Pete the pancreas makes insulin! I make insulin The insulin that Pete makes goes into my blood and keeps my blood sugar normal. I get sugar into my blood when I eat. Lots of food have sugar, like - cereals, toast, apples and milk. I need these sugars in my blood so that my muscles and brain can work properly. 4

INSULIN is like a SPECIAL KEY, This KEY opens the door to allow the sugar into my cells When the SUGAR (Glucose) is in my cells, my body will work properly Insulin balances the food I eat, with the sugar in my blood. Without my own Insulin (KEY), I must take extra insulin every day to keep my body healthy and happy! 5

Meet the Sad Cell Cells in my body are sad because they have no insulin - the KEY to diabetes 6

Meet the Happy Cell When you have Insulin - the KEY, sugar can get through the door of the cell and your cell is HAPPY! 7

Pete the Pancreas in my body! Where does all the food go? What food did you eat today and did it have a lot of sugar? What colour do you think your guts are? 8

Colour me in Try colouring in Pete and the other parts of your body. 9

First time in Hospital with Diabetes? You will probably stay for a few days. You will have a drip for a day or 2. You will meet the Diabetes team this includes: Doctors Special Nurses Dietitian and others who will start to teach you all about Diabetes. 10

What You have to do! You You will will do do finger finger prick prick tests tests 3-4 3-4 times times a day. day. Learn Learn how how to to use use new new monitors monitors and and equipment. equipment. Take Take Insulin Insulin injections injections once as the as you Doctor need says. them. Learn Learn about about what what foods foods have have less less sugar, sugar, and and eat eat regular regular meals meals and and snacks snacks every every day. day. Soon Soon Mum, Mum, Dad Dad and and especially especially You You will will be be an an Expert Expert with your with own your Diabetes. own Diabetes. 11

How to give your insulin 1 Wash your hands 2 Get your injection ready 3 Pick your site 4 and give your insulin 5 Put your used needle in the sharps box 12

Taking your blood sugar 1 Wash your hands 2 Get your meter ready 3 Prick your finger 4 Put a drop of blood on to the strip in your meter 5 write the numbers into your diary 13

What does this mean to my life? LIFE AS NORMAL. The only new thing is, now you must look after your Diabetes as well. Blood sugars each day. Finger pricks. Regular meals and snacks everyday. I must watch what I eat. Exercise as normal. Check your wee regularly. Insulin injections as you need them. Regular visits to the Doctor. You must tell your teacher, sports coach and friends that you have Diabetes. Watch out for Highs and Lows (Hypo s). 14

YOUR QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS: Can I catch diabetes? No, it is not caused by anything you have done or not done. Some children just get diabetes. Do many children have diabetes? About 2000 children in Ireland have diabetes - like you I ate a lot of sweets before I got Diabetes did this cause Diabetes? No, eating sweets will not give you diabetes. Who is to blame for having diabetes? It is nobody s fault that you have diabetes. Is there a tablet available to treat diabetes? No, not yet.. I am extra hungry since coming home, is this normal? Yes, this is because insulin increases your hunger. You lost some weight and now your body wants to get it all back. Will I grow out of diabetes? No, you will always have diabetes. With Diabetes you can lead a normal healthy life and if you play sports this will help control your blood sugars. 15

What is a Hypo? (Hypoglycaemia) How do I know I m Hypo? Hypo is when my blood sugar is below 4 I feel: Pale Sweaty Hungry. Dizzy or Dizzy in my legs Shivering & shaking Headaches. Tired & drowsy Blurred vision. Tummy pains Worried & afraid. Feeling funny! 16

When I am Hypo Blood sugar less than 4 What must I do? 1 Tell somebody Mum, Dad or an adult 2 I need to eat or drink a sugary drink. 3 Re-check my blood sugar half an hour later. 4 If my blood sugar is still low - drink some more sugary drink. 17

What is a High? (Hyperglycaemia) How do I know I m High? This is when my blood sugar is more than 15 What do I feel? Flushed Not well Thirsty Weeing a lot Grumpy Tummy pains Off form No energy Don t forget you may feel Normal! 18

When I am HIGH Blood sugar more than 15 What must I do? 1 Tell Mum or Dad first. 2 Wash my hands. 3 Recheck my blood sugar. 4 Did I eat any extra sugary food? 5 Did I take my Insulin? 6 Are my injection sites all ok! 7 I must check my urine (wee) for Ketones? 8 Drink plenty of water/fluids. 9 If my blood sugar stays high, I need to tell Mum or Dad again. 10 Recheck my blood sugar more often. 19

Ketones Ketones are waste Waste is found in your wee You get ketones when you do not have enough insulin Always check for ketones when: 1. Your blood sugar level is 15 or more 2. If you are sick or vomiting If you have ketones always tell Mum or Dad If you have a lot of ketones in your wee it means your cells are not happy and they need more sugar When you take more insulin, it will open the door to your cell and your cell will be happy again Lots of ketones Now the ketones will go away 20

Sick Day What do I do when I am sick and vomiting? Tell Mum or Dad first. Above all NEVER stop taking my Insulin. Check my blood sugar every 2-3 hours. Check my wee (urine) for Ketones. I need to drink lots of extra fluids, at least one glass of water every hour. If I cannot eat, I must drink half a glass of sugary drink. If I am worried or unsure about anything, tell Mum or Dad and they can contact the Family Doctor or the Diabetes Team at the hospital. 21

22 Colour me in

List of Phone Numbers and Contacts: Diabetic Federation of Ireland Your Diabetes Nurse Your Doctor Internet Sites: Parents Questions? Is there a cure for diabetes? Not at present but there may be a cure in the future..... Will my child always need insulin injections? Yes Childrens Questions? Can I play sports? Yes - any sports you like Is there anything I cannot do? No 23

24 NOTES:

Important things to know Insulin: is a chemical that is made in Pete the Pancreas and this is the KEY to allow sugar into your cells. Glucose: sugar - this is what you measure in your blood when you do a finger prick test. Ketones: waste when you have too much sugar in your blood. You measure for these K in your wee. Pancreas: Pete the Pancreas is an organ in your body. This is where insulin is made