CONCLUSION
T1D is the most common chronic, serious, potentially life-threatening disease among children and adolescents. This lifelong illness is challenging to control, especially when managing the honeymoon period and addressing the increasing insulin demands in a growing child. Once a diagnosis is confirmed, the challenges persist, as each patient needs an individualized treatment regimen with ongoing adjustments. Knowledge of the ADA guidelines for age-appropriate A1C goals is essential for the practitioner who manages a growing child with T1D in order to achieve glycemic control while avoiding hypoglycemia. Preventing hypoglycemia is of the utmost importance, especially in a child too young to recognize symptoms.
Considering all the changes that a child with T1D is likely to experience, it is also important to remember that the foremost goal is for this child to live a healthy life. Thus, practitioners must educate both patients and parents regarding the complications that can arise with poor glycemic control and encourage adherence to the insulin therapy.
T1D requires vigilant monitoring and ongoing adjusted insulin therapy. Understanding age-appropriate treatment and maintaining good communications with patients and their parents are key to successful management of this disease.
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