FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
It isn’t true since there is no evidence that shows significant sensation loss in fingers over time. There might be thickening of skin but no loss of sensation.
You can rub the fingertip with ice to anaesthetize the area before pricking
Aim to inject in subcutaneous layer not to the muscle; and in order to do that correctly, pinch a small area of skin between two fingers, lift it up and then insert the needle to this at an angle of 45 degrees
Check for hypoglycemia whenever he feels sick/ unwell, strange or has any symptoms like trembling, sweaty, dizzy. Check for hyperglycemia whenever there are symptoms like over urination, excessive thirst, dry mouth, tiredness, vomiting, stomachache or weakness.
Whenever the child has hypoglycemia, give him/her meals if it is mealtime, and the child is not having symptoms such as palpitations or dizziness. If not mealtime or if the child has symptoms, then give him sugar or glucose dissolved in water (10-15 g). Alternatively, 2-3 hard candies or 100 ml of juice drink (like Frooty) can be given. Try to avoid giving him/her any sweet, chocolate as they contain fat which delays the sugar absorption. Also, avoid keeping child’s favourite sweet, ice-cream or beverages for treating ‘hypos’ as this might promote deliberate hypoglycemia, or refusal to eat after being given insulin.
Lots of parents worry about the normal pubertal growth of their child and whether they will be able to reproduce. The fact is that as long as the child’s blood sugar is in normal range as he is maintaining well, there would be no such problems in pubertal maturation and their fertility would not be affected. Poor sugar control can lead to delayed pubertal growth and maturation.
No. It is very important to spread this awareness that diabetes is not infectious.
Currently, T1D is not ‘curable’. However, it can be managed well with efficient therapy.
It is not true. T1D is an autoimmune disease, in which body’s defense mechanisms attack the pancreatic islets.
Collect it in a puncture-proof box, and dispose-off safely. You can bring the filled boxes to the clinic/ hospital where the diabetes team will take care of safe disposal. Do not put open needles in bags or general household garbage as it can hurt anyone touching the bag.
Insulin should be stored in the door of the refrigerator (below 20 degrees Celsius). It shouldn’t be exposed to extreme heat or cold or in direct sunlight. If you don’t have access to fridge or there are frequent power cuts, you can keep it in an earthen pot, which is then kept in another earthen bowl filled with wet sand. Keep it in a cool and dark place.
In any medical treatment or procedure, the potential benefits of the treatment are always weighed upon the potential side effects. There might be some side effects of injecting into the skin or of insulin itself like pain, lipodystrophy, discoloration of the injection site and/ or hypoglycemia & skin irritation. However, it is essential to give insulin in the correct doses as advised by your doctor. Dose of insulin normally increases as the child grows.
Even if your child has sore throat or fever, he should be given insulin as usual. Test blood sugar and adjust your insulin dose if required.
You should go to hospital if blood sugar levels are very high, or patient is having symptoms of hyperglycemia like vomiting, persistent stomachache, or ketones. You should also go to hospital in case of severe hypoglycemia, with symptoms like seizures, disorientation, slurred speech or loss of consciousness. If your child is vomiting and has fever which is not going away even with medications, you should go to hospital. If you feel that your child is unwell and you’re not able to manage, seek advice and go to hospital.