DEVELOPMENT OF DIABETES IN TODDLERS

Recognizing hypos

Sometimes your toddler will behave in a way that resembles a hypo – but isn’t. This can be confusing for you. Perhaps she becomes tired and goes to sleep in the middle of a visit to her grandmother. Perhaps she throws a tantrum on the floor of the supermarket, or becomes cross and bad tempered on an outing. Is this just two-year-old behaviour or is the blood glucose level low?

With time and experience you will probably learn to recognize which is which, although sometimes both occur as the blood glucose value varies and influences her mood. If in doubt however, it is usually best to treat it as a hypo. It won’t do any harm to give a little sugar even if the blood glucose is not low.

If you are at home of course, it is sometimes best to do a blood glucose to help you to decide. If you give sugar every time your child has a tantrum it might seem like a reward for bad behaviour and encourage it!

Perhaps a compromise is to give an exchange as a drink for the hypo but then don’t react with any additional attention to her bad behaviour.

Have a break sometimes

Living with a toddler with diabetes can be a full-time job. If you get the chance, meet with other parents of a toddler with diabetes. Check if there is a local playgroup you can attend. Make sure your child is on the waiting list for your local kindergarten, and if there is a difficulty, discuss this with your doctor or social worker. Sometimes special consideration can be given to a child with a special problem like diabetes.

Arrange for a relative, perhaps a grandparent, to learn about diabetes so that you can get a break sometimes. Try to have some time off from your toddler each week to relax. Check with your doctor or social worker whether you are eligible for a government allowance which would help with baby-sitters and extra help in the house.