Child and diabetes

Child and type 1 diabetes

When a child is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, it can feel like being on a rollercoaster. In a short time, there’s a lot to process and a lot to learn. Learning about type 1 diabetes is important.

The more you know about diabetes, the better. It gives parents and children the opportunity to take control of type 1 diabetes themselves. This helps support a healthy and fulfilling life.

GoOD TO KNOW

Proper guidance in the treatment of type 1 diabetes is important. Diabeter is a specialist in diabetes care for children.

Practical tips and guidance can be valuable when raising a child with type 1 diabetes, helping families navigate daily challenges with more confidence and ease.

Type 1 diabetes can have physical consequences. However, there are ways to reduce the risk of complications.

Diabeter provides diabetes care across four specialized centers in the Netherlands, delivering outstanding results.

Diabeter: Diabetes care for children

Type 1 diabetes can be very challenging. Diabetes care must be tailored to the individual—especially when it comes to children. This requires proper coaching and guidance.

Diabeter is a specialist in diabetes care for children and adolescents. With the right care, children feel better and long-term physical complications can be prevented.

At Diabeter, a range of specialists work together: doctors, diabetes nurses, dietitians, psychologists, and other professionals. They collaborate to provide multidisciplinary diabetes care. This means they jointly focus on delivering the best possible care for young people with diabetes.

Managing diabetes within the family and in everyday life is also part of this approach.

The Role of Parents in Managing Type 1 Diabetes in Children

For children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes, parental involvement is essential. As children grow, that role naturally evolves—gradually shifting toward greater independence in managing their condition. The goal is to empower children to take more control over their diabetes care as they mature.

Once a child begins treatment at Diabeter, they can continue receiving care there into adulthood.

Diabeter is a specialized diabetes center for both children and adults. Even as patients grow older, they can remain under the care of Diabeter, ensuring continuity and expertise throughout their journey.

Support for parents and caregivers

Raising a child can sometimes be challenging—especially when your child has type 1 diabetes. In such cases, a little extra support can go a long way. Caring for a child with type 1 diabetes requires tremendous effort.

Explaining why something is happening or needs to happen, and showing empathy toward the child, is essential. This approach helps children with type 1 diabetes achieve better glucose levels.

Responding Positively to Blood Sugar Levels

Managing type 1 diabetes in children takes a lot of energy, and it’s important to acknowledge that. It helps not to judge when blood sugar levels are disappointing. This can be difficult—parents naturally worry and want their child to have good glucose levels. But reacting with anger may cause the child to hide high or low readings in the future.

When fluctuating blood sugar levels are met with a positive and supportive attitude, it can make a big difference. A constructive approach can motivate children to take ownership of their diabetes care. This is especially important during adolescence.

Questions for Parents to Reflect On

Dr. Minke Eilander, an educational psychologist, has extensive knowledge about parenting children with type 1 diabetes. Her advice has been compiled into a tipsheet. This document includes questions that parents of children with diabetes can ask themselves. Reflecting on these questions helps parents better understand how to support and connect with their child.

Preventing future complications

Maintaining good glucose control in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes is especially important, as they have their whole lives ahead of them.

Stable glucose levels not only help a child feel better and function more effectively in the short term, but also contribute to long-term health.

The better the glucose levels are kept in balance, the greater the chance that a child with diabetes will grow up without diabetes-related complications.

Why Diabeter?

Diabeter is a specialist in the treatment of type 1 diabetes. Originally established as a care center for children with diabetes, we now treat over 5,000 people with type 1 diabetes across four different centers.

Children receiving care at Diabeter achieve strong health outcomes:

In 2024, individuals aged 0 to 18 had an average HbA1c of 7.4 mmol/l, which equals 57 mmol/mol.
63% of them had an HbA1c below 7.5 mmol/l (58 mmol/mol) in 2024.

We are incredibly proud of the hard work and dedication shown by these children and young people with type 1 diabetes—and their families—in achieving these results.