Self-monitoring of blood glucose is the tool for tracking and maintaining the balance among these variables. Diabetes control is a constant balancing act of food, exercise, and insulin. Blood glucose monitoring is the tool for maintaining this balance. The emergency situation you are most likely to encounter in caring for a child with diabetes is low blood sugar, also known as insulin reaction or insulin shock. Low blood sugar may be caused by eating too little food or not eating soon enough after a previous meal, by too much physical activity without eating, or by too much insulin.
Symptoms listed below appear suddenly.
Each child has a particular set of personal symptoms that you will come to recognize. Rapid pulse rate Blurred vision Shallow breathing Inability to concentrate Loss of coordination Mental confusion Seizure Loss of consciousness Treatment Provide sugar immediately. The child should be feeling better within 10 minutes. The child should then eat some additional food, such as half a peanut butter, meat, or cheese sandwich. The child can then resume normal activities.