Question

What if during the 3 month follow up visit to the provider’s office, the school-aged/ early adolescent client with type 1 diabetes states, “We started soccer this month. Sometimes I get so weak and shaky during our Saturday soccer games that I have to drink two sports drinks to make me feel better.”

What teaching points with rationales would you include in your response to this client and his family?

Answer 1

Diabetes is a group of disease condition that results in too much sugar in the blood.

TYPE 1 DIABETES

Type 1 Diabetes is also called juvenile Diabetes, it is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produce little or no insulin.

SYMPTOMS

Increased thirst

Frequent urination

Hunger

Fatigue

Blurred vision

Excessive sweating. etc

Teaching Points To Be Included during the follow up of the child with type 1 Diabetes complaining of weak & shaky feeling during the soscer games are;

1. Dehydration ( maintain hydration )

After Playing games diabetes patients usually gets dehydration because blood sugars are running high due to increased urine production.

Adequate hydration is important in such situations during, before & after the activities.

Many of them wait until they are thirsty, it leads to weight loss of 1 to 2 %

If blood sugars are higher than normal, in that situation also patient gets dehydrated.

2. Hot Climates ( avoid hot climate )

Sports during the hot Climates usually increase the problem which decreases the blood volume leads to decreased performance & chances of faint.

Here the children are great at risk because they get more hotter during activities like games

3. Urine colour & quantity

Dark & yellow colour urine & less quantity indicates dehydration.

4. Muscle Cramps

Muscle Cramps arise due to loss of sodium through sweating.

It can be prevented by Sports Drinks which is water combined with sodium, which is more effective than drinking plain water.

5) Water Vs Sports Drinks

Water :

Under 1 hour activities water is sufficient

Sports Drinks :

For Activities lasts more than 1 hour

For High intensive activities

Provides calories of about 15g for a 40-60 minutes of exercises.

6 ) Sugar Level 300mg/dl )

Child with around 300mg/dl blood sugars is better to use water to cope with dehydration, in addition it also helps to flush out ketones

7 ) Water Drinking schedule can be followed by the child is ;

2 hour prior the activities : 16oz of water

1 hour before the activities : 8oz of water

Every 15- 20 minutes during the activities : 4-6oz