Can The Child Participate In All Sports?

Encourage your child to take part in school-sponsored athletics and to sign up for sports teams after school. This will do two things:

• It will program exercise into your child's life. Ideally, children with diabetes should have at least 30 minutes of activity a day. Exercise helps their bodies use insulin more efficiently and gives them a more optimistic, self-confident outlook.

• Being on a team can help your child see that diabetes is not a handicap. It needn't affect athletic performance at all!

Exercise helps the tissues of the body use blood sugar, so it may bring a risk of hypoglycemia. Talk to the doctor about reducing insulin or giving extra snacks before a workout.

Diabetes Camps

Some children hate the fact that diabetes makes them different. Attending diabetes summer camps can help their sense of belonging, abolish self-pity, and teach confidence-building skills. Some camps have special weekend sessions that involve the whole family.