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Learning that your child has diabetes can change your family's life. However, parents of other children with diabetes can tell you that diabetes need not become your family's life. Similarly, taking insulin need not take over your daily routine, thereby making your child "different." He or she can live a full, active life alongside his or her peers without diabetes. This section will review some of the unique considerations for children taking insulin. Be sure to discuss these and other considerations with your child's healthcare team. Together, you can determine what may work best to help keep your child healthy and happy.

Humalog is approved for children as young as 3 years of age. The safety and effectiveness of Humalog Mix75/25 and Humalog Mix50/50 in patients less than 18 years of age have not been established.

Considerations discussed here include:


Fear of injections: How to handle the "ouch" factor
Understandably, children from toddlers to teens are frightened by insulin injections. It can help to acknowledge their fears: "Yes, I know it hurts. You're being very brave." Positive reinforcement is generally preferred over scolding or threats, to keep the experience in a positive light. Also, be open with your child and talk about his or her feelings. Fear, hostility, and guilt are all normal emotions for the situation. Your healthcare provider can help you anticipate some of the common reactions among children so that you can address them appropriately. For some ways to help minimize the discomfort of injections for your child, see Injection Tips and talk to your healthcare provider.
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Newly diagnosed children and the "honeymoon" phase
It is common for newly diagnosed children with type 1 diabetes to enter a "honeymoon phase" when they start insulin. However, this phase is only temporary. It can start within several weeks after starting insulin, but it will generally end within a few months. Children in the honeymoon phase may need less insulin than initially prescribed by their doctor. It's important to work closely with your healthcare team when starting your child on insulin. They can identify if your child enters this phase and make adjustments to their insulin doses.
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Issues unique to young and school-aged children
There are many issues unique to infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-aged children when starting insulin. Be sure to ask your healthcare team about age-specific concerns when starting insulin. One of the most common issues is low blood sugar (also called "hypoglycemia"). Your child may experience low blood sugar if he or she has too much insulin or not enough food. Young children are especially challenged by low blood sugar because they may not understand what's happening to their bodies. They may also lack the verbal skills to communicate their symptoms. You should check your child's blood sugar often to help catch low blood sugar in young children. (To learn how to recognize and treat symptoms, see our Hypoglycemia section.) Also, work with your healthcare team to determine the appropriate blood sugar targets for your child. They may be adjusted to address the risk of hypoglycemia.

Another common issue is diabetes management in school or daycare settings. If your child takes insulin, it's important that caregivers know how to check your child's blood sugar and administer insulin (or glucagon in an emergency). There are several resources available to help parents develop a diabetes management plan with school or daycare personnel. See our Resources section for links to these organizations.
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Issues unique to teenagers
For teenagers with diabetes, taking insulin and checking blood sugar can compound the normal difficulties of being a teen. It is normal for a teen with diabetes to act like everyone else and try to neglect their diabetes management. However, it's also a cruel irony that many teens try to assert their independence at the same time their diabetes can become more difficult to manage. This is because the same hormones that cause puberty can make blood sugar levels unpredictable. During this time, it's important to work closely with your healthcare team to address your teen's changing needs. Also, encourage your teen to talk about his or her frustrations and offer praise whenever possible — even for the smallest achievements.

For more detailed information about kids and insulin, see our Resources section for links to websites and organizations dedicated to this topic.
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Humalog is approved for children as young as 3 years of age. The safety and effectiveness of Humalog Mix75/25 and Humalog Mix50/50 in patients less than 18 years of age have not been established.

Humalog, Humalog Mix75/25, and Humalog Mix50/50 are available by prescription only. See Humalog, Humalog Mix75/25, and Humalog Mix50/50 Patient Information for important facts about these products.

Humalog Patient Information | Humalog Mix75/25 Patient Information | Humalog Mix50/50 Patient Information | Important Safety Information

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