Dietary Changes

• The American Diabetes Association says that the entire family has to choose healthy foods and eat on a regular schedule to manage diabetes in children. Instead of creating a food plan that isolates diabetic children, parents should make the new lifestyle a priority for all family members. Parents learn how to prepare foods using healthy ingredients and measure food in order to eat correct portion sizes. Parents with diabetic children may require extra effort by preparing lunches for their school-aged children with special instructions for teachers. The American Diabetes Association states that parents can eat sugary treats on occasion as part of a healthy diet.
  
  

Exercise

• Exercise prevents many of the health risks related to diabetes. Parents can manage their children's diabetes by helping them establish an exercise schedule. Regular exercise reduces the chances of developing heart disease, increases energy levels, promotes effective insulin production, stabilizes blood sugar levels and helps maintain healthy weight. Exercises like running, bike riding or just playing outdoors increase diabetic children's physical activity.
  
  

Testing Blood Glucose Levels and Insulin

• In order to manage diabetes in children, doctors instruct parents and children on how to test blood glucose levels and administer insulin. This is a daunting task for parents and children because many find it hard to prick skin to check blood glucose levels. The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundations suggests different methods to deliver insulin other than insulin shots. Insulin pumps--a pager-sized devise worn on a belt or kept in a pocket--delivers a continual dose of insulin via a small needle inserted under the skin of the thigh, buttock, upper arm or other fatty area of the body. The amount of insulin delivered by the pump can be adjusted according to the child's physical activity and amount of food eaten. Testing of other delivery methods, including inhaled insulin and insulin spray, are ongoing. Parents and children should discuss these various options with doctors to see what works best for them.
  
  

Skin Care

• Teaching proper skin care is also important in managing diabetes in children. Parents teach them how to care for dry skin and prevent wounds and sores from developing on their hands and feet. Children with diabetes, like adults, must regularly moisturize their skin and wear shoes and socks when going outdoors to avoid injuring themselves.