Insulin Adjustment
To help manage your child’s diabetes, you will probably need to understand their insulin regimen and make small adjustments regularly to the insulin doses.
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If your child takes insulin injections (rather than a pump) they are likely to be taking 2 different types of insulin, 1 with meals and 1 at bedtime. If necessary, it is best to adjust insulin doses for low blood glucose levels first, and then deal with high blood glucose levels.
Also, try to make one change at a time and see what effect that has on the blood glucose levels for a few days before making any further adjustments. Insulin doses may need to be adjusted:
- When blood glucose is outside the target range
- For changes to meals
- When your child is ill
- Before or after various activities such as sports, shopping (teens you know)
Do not hesitate to ask the diabetes care team when you need any support and advice with this aspect of managing your child’s diabetes.
Regular glucose monitoring and recording of the results will help you and your child to see how their glucose readings change throughout the day and overnight. This monitoring will also help them see how readings are affected by food, insulin, activities, stress and play.
Knowing their glucose level is an important part of deciding how to adjust insulin doses. This information should help you and your diabetes care team to improve your child’s overall diabetes management.
