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ADA releases position statement on caring for young children with type 1 diabetes
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Type 1 diabetes care for children aged 5 years or younger requires unique management, according to a recent position statement from the American Diabetes Association.
“Pediatric health care providers, parents/guardians and all child care staff must work together to ensure that young children with diabetes are provided with the safest possible child care environment,” the researchers wrote. “This collaboration is essential to achieve a seamless transition in care from home to the child care setting.”
According to the statement, it is meant to guide child care providers and not provide direct instructions in the care of young children with type 1 diabetes.
Some key points of the statement include:
- The need for collaboration between health care providers, parents/guardians and child care staff;
- Adults should provide self-management care to young children;
- Adults should supervise the child when he/she is old enough to take on some of their own care;
- Admission of children with diabetes should not be denied at child care centers;
- The child care center should be provided with a written care plan;
- Basic training should be given to those providing care for any child with diabetes;
- Each adult in the life of a child with diabetes is responsible for some of the care to ensure they are in a healthy and safe environment.
“It is well understood that young children with diabetes have unique needs,” the researchers wrote. “Young children require a carefully thought-out, proactive diabetes care plan and not a reactive one (ie, crisis management) that must be developed with the health care provider, parents/guardians, care may be suboptimal in the child care setting. For those instances, there are federal laws that protect the rights of the young child. Violation of these rights may be subject to legal action.”
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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