Getting to know the signs of high and low blood sugar in a child with Type 1 diabetes takes a decent amount of time. There is no set time when you begin to notice the signs of high and low blood sugar, it just happens over time. The more time you spend with the child the better.
You may begin to notice that when the child cries unexpectedly and you check his sugar it might be low. So the next time you hear the child crying for no apparent reason you may check his sugar again more prepared that the number may be low or dropping. It just takes time, practice and instinct.
My son typically gets weepy when his number is on the lower side or dropping. An ordinary task such as going to brush teeth may illicit a response such as, “Idon’twannabrushmyteeth,” as an all one word whine and then I know to check his sugar.
There is a fine line though that does take time to learn. Not every time my son cries is he low. He may be crying because he is six and sometimes six year old boys cry. He may cry if he is not allowed to watch a certain television show. I know after almost 2 1/2 years of dealing with Type 1 diabetes that some crying is just crying. He cries when he is hurt, sad, embarrassed, and sometimes low. The hard part for caregivers is learning the difference so you can avoid testing his sugar or over treating a number unnecessarily in one day.
I have asked school personnel to treat a low on the spot then contact the school nurse to give them the next step in the plan of action. There have been times when my son has cried in school and they have treated with a Starburst on the spot and we were able to determine that his number had been on the lower side. So giving the Starburst was the absolute right choice.
Then there are the other times.
My son cried the other day because he thought he forgot his library book. They gave him a Starburst, and he stopped crying, because what six year old wouldn’t stop crying if you pop candy in his mouth. While I completely understand the thought behind the Starburst and I do appreciate that they are following my plan to keep my son safe, I do wonder when that fine line with be learned.
And it may never be learned, and that is something that I have to understand. Unfortunately you cannot teach people instinct. There will be people that are really tuned into my son’s needs and others that follow the plan to make sure he is safe. Either way is fine. As long as my son is safe.