| Who will see your child? | Most likely you will be referred to a childrens hospital/department, where they will have a specialised team supporting diabetes. |
| What will they do? | The first checks will focus on two things: 1) Blood glucose (sugar) levels. This will confirm your childs diagnosis, and high levels will need to be reduced through infusions of insulin, which will help your childs body to process the sugar in their blood. 2) Ketone levels. Ketones are produced when the body focuses on using fats for energy instead of sugar for a prolonged period of time. For people with T1D Ketones can be poisonous (Diabetic Ketoacidosis, or DKA), which may cause your child to feel sick. The hospital will likely give insulin, fluids and electrolytes to help. |
| How long is this going to take? | Be prepared that this is not going to be quick. Your child is likely to be in hospital for days or weeks. Think about what they may need in hospital, this may vary depending on where you are and what the hospital provides or allows, but you can refer to this checklist for some ideas. |
| Why so long in hospital? | Three reasons: 1) Your medical team needs time to bring your childs blood glucose and ketones to a safe level, this will not be a ‘quick fix’ but something that they will gradually adjust over a period of time – how long will depend on your childs current condition. 2) Once your child has been stabilised, your medical team will want to establish a good routine of diet and insulin and monitor the results to be sure they are ready to return home with you. 3) Education – there will need to be a period of time for teaching your child, and you, about the condition and how to manage it effectively going forward. |
| What do I do now? | 1) Remember Type 1 Diabetes is not preventable, no-one is to blame. Refer to the Quick Guide to T1D if this is completely new to you. 2) Listen to the medical team, they have done this many times before and know what they are doing. 3) Be reassuring with your child; yes this is a shock and scary but that is just because this is new and surprising. Given time and some adjustments, everything will be manageable and they can live a normal life. 4) Make sure they have what they need for the stay in hospital. 5) At home, start to think about changes you may need to make for when they return. Remember that sweets, breads, and other sugary foods will need to be carefully controlled from now on. This does not mean removing all sugar from the house! Saccharides will be essential for your childs well-being. |
Important site information: This website is for general interest purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Always follow guidance from your professional diabetes care team and seek urgent care if you suspect an emergency. Learn more about us here.