Type 1 Diabetes: Children Living With the Disease - Exams and Tests

Exams and Tests

A child with type 1 diabetes needs to visit his or her doctor at least every 3 to 4 months. During these visits, the doctor reviews your child's blood sugar level records and asks about any problems you and your child may have. Your child's blood pressure is checked, and growth and development is evaluated. A health professional will examine your child for signs of infections, especially at injection sites. Your child will usually have the following tests at office visits:

• A hemoglobin A1c or similar test (glycosylated hemoglobin or glycohemoglobin) to check your child's blood sugar control over the previous 2 to 3 months
• A blood glucose test. This is a good time to check the accuracy of your child's blood sugar meter.
• A blood test to check kidney functions and electrolyte levels

If your child has a family history of high cholesterol or heart disease, your child's doctor will do a cholesterol (LDL and HDL) test when type 1 diabetes is diagnosed. If there is no family history of high cholesterol, your child will have a cholesterol test at puberty. If the LDL cholesterol is less than 110 mg/dL (2.60 mmol/L) and there is no family history of high cholesterol, the doctor will repeat this test every 5 years.

Diabetes increases your child's risk for dental problems. Experts suggest dental checkups every 6 months.

Children's nutritional needs change as they grow and develop. See a registered dietitian at least once a year to review your child's meal plan.

5 years after diagnosis

Your child will have an initial dilated eye exam (ophthalmoscopy) by an ophthalmologist or an optometrist when your child is at least 10 years old and has had diabetes for 3 to 5 years. This eye exam checks for signs of diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. Thereafter, your child should have yearly eye exams. You child should also begin having annual microalbumin urine tests. This test helps detect diabetic nephropathy.

Other tests

Your child may need a thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) test when type 1 diabetes is diagnosed and then every 1 to 2 years. This test checks for thyroid problems, which are common among people with diabetes.

Other tests include:

• Annual foot exam starting at puberty.
• Routine screening for depression after your child is 10 years old.
• Eating disorder evaluation if your child shows signs of an eating problem.
• Celiac disease testing when type 1 diabetes is diagnosed and then if your child is not growing or gaining weight as much as expected.