Los Angeles,
06
July
2016
|
00:17 AM
America/Los_Angeles

Type 1 Diabetes Doesn't Take a Summer Break

Pediatric Endocrinologist Michelle Schweiger, DO, MPH, Gives Summertime Health Tips for Children With Type 1 Diabetes


Contact: Soshea Leibler | Email: soshea.leibler@cshs.org

Los Angeles — July 5, 2016 — For kids, the perfect summer can mean sleeping in, eating whenever hunger strikes, playing outdoors in the sun, swimming and staying up late. But for children with Type 1 diabetes, all of the above, and the general lack of schedule, can wreak havoc with their blood sugar levels.

Michelle Schweiger, DO, MPH, director of Pediatric Endocrinology at the Cedars-Sinai Maxine Dunitz Children's Health Center, says, "It's important for all parents of children with Type 1 diabetes to stick to an eating and sleeping schedule, even during summer break, and to continue monitoring their blood sugars four to six times a day."

Schweiger outlines her top summertime tips for patients with Type 1 diabetes, during a video interview with Avery, a reporter for Cedars-Sinai Kids Talk. The video interview is now available for downloading and streaming on the Cedars-Sinai YouTube channel. Schweiger's summertime guidelines for her patients with Type 1 diabetes, also called juvenile diabetes, include:

  • If a child is sleeping later than usual, parents should check the child's blood sugar levels before letting the child go back to sleep.
  • When traveling, parents should make sure to pack a letter from their child's pediatric endocrinologist authorizing them to travel with syringes, needles and pumps. Also, remember that pumps should not go through airport X-ray machines.
  • Insulin needs to be at room temperature. If your child is taking a road trip, travel with a cold pack for the insulin.
  • Exercise affects blood sugar levels. Kids who are outside playing all day may need less insulin, so parents need to monitor and measure carefully.
  • Check blood sugar levels before your child goes swimming. If your child is on an insulin pump, you probably need to disconnect it before your child gets in the water.
  • If your child wants to take a break from wearing an insulin pump this summer, talk with your doctor about long-acting injections.
  • Parents sending their child to summer camp need to make sure the camp is aware of the child's needs. Find out if there is a counselor or a camp nurse who is familiar with the needs of Type 1 diabetes patients and who can treat high or low blood sugar levels. Find out where your child can store insulin and other diabetes-related equipment.
  • During the summer, children might be enrolled in new activities where others are not aware of their medical needs. Consider purchasing your child a diabetes ID bracelet.
  • Remember to stay well hydrated, especially in hot weather. Dehydration causes a rise in blood sugars. A good rule of thumb is to never wait until you are thirsty to drink water.

If you would like to schedule an interview, please contact Soshea Leibler at 213-215-8000 or soshea.leibler@cshs.org.


PHOTO CAPTION:
Michelle Schweiger, DO, MPH, director of Pediatric Endocrinology at the Cedars-Sinai Maxine Dunitz Children's Health Center, says, "It's important for all parents of children with Type 1 diabetes to stick to an eating and sleeping schedule, even during summer break, and to continue monitoring their blood sugars four to six times a day." Schweiger outlines her top summertime tips for patients with Type 1 diabetes, during a video interview with Avery, a reporter for Cedars-Sinai Kids Talk. The video interview is now available for downloading and streaming on the Cedars-Sinai YouTube channel.