When your child is sick, you want to do everything you can to help them feel better, but choosing cold medicine for kids with diabetes can be like a minefield for parents. One of the nice things about over-the-counter (OTC) medicine labels is they recommend to “ask your doctor before taking this medicine.” Here are…
Having healthy snacks available can be crucial for families on the go with a child with diabetes. You can make this easy trail mix ahead of time and portion for single 1-ounce servings for a quick, easy snack when you need it. EASY TRAIL MIX Servings: 10 to 12 portions, 1 ounce each 1 cup…
I have lived with Type 1 diabetes for 21 years. Carbohydrate counting is as integral to a meal to me as chewing. And that’s because there’s a lot of math to think about when you sit down to eat when you have diabetes: You have to count carbohydrates (carbs) and calculate your insulin-to-carb ratio. It…
At the start of the new year, getting healthy and losing weight are on the minds of many. There are a lot of diets out there to choose from –– and while many diets promote their benefits, they may not promote that they are a fad diet. If you have a child with Type 1…
Diabetes and Thanksgiving can be a difficult time for children with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes as all the holiday’s rich foods can cause anxiety and present a challenges. What can children and families do to have a happy, healthy diabetic Thanksgiving? Whitney A. Cessna, M.S., RDN, LDN, CDE, registered dietitian nutritionist, diabetes educator…
Every child gets sick with a sore throat, cold or minor illness from time to time. When your child with diabetes is ill, there are simple sick-day guidelines you can follow to help manage blood sugar levels. Being prepared and taking extra measures may help you and your family have a healthier cold and flu…
When it comes to Type 1 vs Type 2 diabetes, here are the differences. When people talk about the condition diabetes mellitus, they often use just the word “diabetes.” However, diabetes mellitus describes several types of conditions in which a child may develop high blood sugar (blood glucose). Type 1 diabetes definition Type 1 diabetes…
For many kids, Halloween is a big sugar rush. But for children with diabetes, the holiday can be very challenging for the entire family. Fortunately, kids with diabetes still can enjoy the holiday. It just requires a different approach. Parents should plan ahead to work candy into their child’s diabetes meal plan or ensure they…
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, 4.1 million newborns in the U. S. undergo newborn screening for congenital disorders each year. Of these, 4,000 infants are diagnosed with a condition. September is Newborn Screening Awareness Month –– did you know about this public health service in every U.S. state? Newborn screening identifies conditions that…
Three-year-old Apphia Rosenthal started a regular day last summer eating eggs and chatting with her parents. She was excited about what color glasses she would choose if she needed them (she was thinking something in pink). What her parents weren’t expecting was for Apphia to go from the ophthalmologist, to then have a magnetic resonance…
Summer can be a fun time for kids: time spent outside and so much more. The fun can disrupt a child’s normal routine, however, which can make managing blood sugar difficult for kids with Type 1 diabetes. How can parents help their kids manage blood sugar during the summer months? Blood sugar is affected by…
I remember very clearly the day that my son Cooper was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. I was sitting with my husband and Cooper in the emergency department waiting to see the endocrinologist. As we were waiting, the nurse checked his one-hour blood sugar from his glucose test, read me that result plus what his…