Diabetes Basics

KBN 2014

Understanding
Diabetes
O Complex disease
O Digestion breaks

down carbohydrates
sugar (glucose)
O Sugar bloodstream
O Insulin moves sugar
into cells for energy
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Definition of terms
O blood sugar = blood glucose
O you may it hear it used

interchangeably

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Body Function Without

Diabetes

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Type 1 vs. Type 2 Diabetes

No insulin (key) means that

sugar cannot enter the cell.
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Insulin (key) cannot unlock the

cell door. Insulin resistance or
inability of body to use insulin.

Type 1 Diabetes
O Insulin-producing cells are destroyed
O Daily insulin replacement necessary
O Age at onset: usually childhood,

young adulthood
O Most common type of diabetes in
children and adolescents

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Type 1 Diabetes
Onset of diabetes:
relatively quickly

can happen

Symptoms: increased urination,

tiredness, weight loss, increased
thirst, hunger, dry skin, blurred vision
Cause: uncertain, both genetic and
environmental factors
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Management Goal
O Diabetes is managed but does not go

away
O Goal is to maintain a target glucose
range

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Diabetes Management
Making Diabetes a Part of Life
O Insulin/Medication
O Physical Activity
O Food Intake
O Other Factors

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What a Child Needs?

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What a Child Deals With?

Everything that every child deals
with
+
Diabetes

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Hypoglycemia Unawareness
O Their body can not tell the child the

blood sugar is low

O I just feel funny
O The child might simply be distracted
O You know a child is just not acting
right

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Honeymoon Phase
O Not all newly diagnosed individuals

experience the Honeymoon Phase

O Can last for weeks up to 2 years
O We can not let our guard down

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Example of Target Range For

Type 1 Diabetes
O Preschool and Kindergarten (3-5 yrs.)
O Before meals, blood sugar range 100mg/dl-180
O The target range is always ordered by

Health Care Provider

O School Age (6-12 yrs.)
O Before meals, blood sugar range 90mg/dl-180mg/dl
O The target range is always ordered by the

Health Care Provider

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Management
Preschool Middle Priorities
School (312 yrs.)
O Adult involvement
O Allow for

participation in
school/peer
activities

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O Student learning

based on benefits
of optimal control

Example of Target Range For

Type 1 Diabetes
O Adolescents and young adults (13-19

yrs.)
O Before meals 90mg/dL-130mg/dL
O Always Health Care Provider
Ordered

The Art and Science of

Diabetes Self-Management
Education
Desk Reference, 2011
KBN
2014

Management Priorities
Early Adolescence
13-15 years

O Renegotiating

adult/teens role in
diabetes
management
O Learning coping skills
to enhance self
management
O Monitoring for signs
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of2014
depression, eating
disorders, risky
behaviors

Later
Adolescence
16-19 years
O Begin discussion of
transition to a new
diabetes team
O Integrating
diabetes into new
lifestyle
O Supporting the
transition to
independence