Carolyn N. Kinder
Goal
:
Blood glucose goals should be higher than those listed above in children with frequent hypoglycemia or hypoglycemia unawareness.
Objective: Students will learn how to control diabetes and prevent complications. The American Diabetes Association has developed recommendations for blood glucose goals for young people with type 1diabetes. Although there are no national recommendations for children with type 2diabetes, it may be reasonable to use the values in the following table as a guide.
Blood Glucose Goals
Purpose: Blood glucose levels must be managed as close to a normal range as is safely possible (70 to 100 mg/dl before eating.
Optimal plasma blood glucose and AIC (A blood test that measures the average amount of glucose in your body over a 2-3-month period based upon the percentage of hemoglobin molecules found in red blood cells with glucose attached to them. AIC is a numerical term used to represent how much of your hemoglobin has blood sugar) goals for Type 1 diabetes for adolescents and young adults.
Plasma Blood Glucose Goal
(table available in print form)
Source: This chart is adapted from the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, www. Nddk.nih.gov
* A lower goal (7.0) is reasonable if it can be achieved without excessive hypoglycemia.
Hypoglycemia
Diabetes treatment can sometimes cause blood glucose levels to drop too low, with resultant hypoglycemia. Taking too much insulin, missing a meal or snack, or exercising too much may cause hypoglycemia or low blood glucose. You can become irritable, shaky, and confused. When blood glucose levels fall very low, loss of consciousness or seizures may develop. The child should drink or eat a concentrated sugar to raise the blood glucose value to greater than 80 mg/dl. Once the blood glucose is over 80, the child can eat food-containing protein to maintain blood glucose levels in the normal range. The concentrated sugar will increase blood glucose levels and cause resolution of symptoms quickly, avoiding over-treatment.
Hyperglycemia
Causes of hyperglycemia include forgetting to take medications on time, eating too much, and getting too little exercise. Being ill also can raise blood glucose levels. Over time, hyperglycemia or high blood sugar can cause damage to the eyes, kidneys, nerves, blood vessels, gums, and teeth.
Student Will Do This:
List the symptoms of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. What actions should you take if you or someone you know were either hypoglycemic or hyperglycemic?
Explain why exercise and eating properly are important to a person with diabetes.
Keep a daily exercise log and food diary for two weeks. Develop a sample nutritious meal a diabetic patient should eat. Keep a count of the carbohydrate intake