We want your child with diabetes to stay healthy. They will still see their primary care provider regularly. They will also see the diabetes team every 3 to 4 months. Your child will need tests to help check their health.  The diabetes team will order and review the results at your visits. It is important for your child to stay up to date with vaccines.

These are the common tests and screenings for a child with diabetes.

Blood Sugars and Hemoglobin A1C Test:

• Your child will have a blood test to check hemoglobin A1C at each visit. The test tells us a 3-month average of how blood sugars have been trending.
• The team will review your child’s blood sugar meter, blood sugars logs or Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) at every visit. Based on these tests your child’s insulin doses may need to change.

Thyroid Tests:

• The thyroid gland makes thyroid hormone. Thyroid hormone helps your child grow and develop.
• Children with diabetes can have a condition that attacks their thyroid gland.
• Your child needs a blood test which tells us how your child’s thyroid is working when they are diagnosed. Then, it will be checked every 1 to 2 years.
• If they develop a problem with their thyroid, they will take medicine by mouth to help.

Celiac Tests:

• Celiac disease is a condition that attacks part of the stomach that processes gluten. Gluten is found in many foods, including grains like wheat, barley, and rye.
• We will do a blood test to check for celiac disease when your child is diagnosed. After that, your child will be checked again in 2 years, 5 years and as needed.
• If your child has celiac disease, they will see a gastrointestinal (GI) specialist. Your child will need to make changes to what they eat and drink to avoid gluten.

Diabetes can affect the small blood vessels in our body. These include the vessels in the eyes, heart, kidneys, and feet. Your child will have screens for:

High Blood Pressure

• Your child’s blood pressure will be checked at every clinic visit.
• If your child has high blood pressure, they will see a kidney specialist (nephrologist) and may start a medicine by mouth.

High Cholesterol

• Your child will have a blood test to check their cholesterol.
• If your child has high cholesterol, improving their blood sugars will help. The team will also talk about changes to what your child eats and drinks.
• Your child may be started on a medicine by mouth.

Kidney Problems

• A urine test tells us how your child’s kidneys are working.
• Your child’s urine will be checked for protein when they are around 10 years old.  We do not start this until they have had diabetes for at least 5 years.
• This test is done once a year.
• If the urine test shows a problem with their kidneys, your child may need to start a medicine by mouth.

Eye Problems

• Your child will get a diabetes eye exam around 11 years old. We do not start this until they have had diabetes for at least 3 to 5 years.
• They will have eye exams every 2 to 4 years.
• If a test shows a problem with their eyes, your child will see an eye specialist (ophthalmology).

Nerve Problems

• A foot exam is done to check on your child’s nerve health. The provider may check for pulses in their feet and how well they can feel different types of touch.
• If the exam shows a problem with their nerves, your child will see a nerve specialist (neurology).

How Are Vaccines Different With Type 1 Diabetes?

• It is important for your child to stay up to date with their vaccines.
• Having diabetes does not make your child more at risk of getting sick. But if they do get sick, they will have to manage the illness and diabetes at the same time.
• Your child should get a flu shot every year. This is offered in the diabetes clinic. They can receive this at a follow up visit.
• Your child should also get the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine, or PPSV23 (if your child is older than 2). This is because kids with diabetes can get very sick if they get a pneumococcal infection.