Angie Middlehurst - Summer Tips for Kids.mp4

Summer Tips for Kids
Summer holidays are a great time to do the fun things you don't have time for when you're at school!

But there are a few extra things to remember if you have diabetes.
Being active can help manage diabetes and keep blood glucose levels, or BGLs, mostly in the normal range. Exercise usually lowers BGLs, but sometimes they may go up before and after sport because you're nervous or excited. BGLs may drop low and stay low later that day or night after being more active than usual.

Testing tells you more about your body and what different activities do to your BGLs.
Test before, during and after activity.

Keep your meter out of direct heat or it might not work properly.
You may need to change your insulin dose when active. Your diabetes team can help with this.

When you're being active, you usually need extra carbohydrate foods to stop your BGL going too low. Have a carbohydrate snack like a piece of fruit, juice or muesli bar to top-up before, during and after activity.
When you're active, your BGLs can sometimes drop too low and you can have a hypo. If you have a hypo, quickly eat or drink something sweet and then eat something else so it doesn't come back. Always have your hypo kit with you. If you're not with family, make sure people with you know to watch for hypos.

If your BGL is above 15mmol it's important to test for ketones. If you have ketones or you're unwell - don't play sport. Ketones mean you need more insulin so ask Mum, Dad or someone at home what to do.
If your BGL is over 15mmol with no ketones and you're not unwell, it's OK to do less energetic exercise like walking - but not high energy activities like football or basketball. Check your BGL again in one to two hours to see if it's come down.

Healthy eating when you're out and about can sometimes be difficult, so try to choose carefully.
It's OK to enjoy the occasional treat too!

Don't forget to always take plenty of carbohydrate and hypo foods with you and a water bottle especially in hot weather.
Diabetes camps are sometimes held in the school holidays and are a great way to meet other kids with diabetes and find out how to deal with managing your diabetes.

REMEMBER TO WEAR SUNSCREEN -- Don't spoil your holiday being sunburnt!

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