Questions to ask your healthcare provider about your child's type 1 diabetes

Questions to ask your healthcare provider about your child’s type 1 diabetes

Prepare for a healthy and successful school year by ensuring you have the answers you need

Lauren Barr

September 6, 2022

If you’re the parent of a child with type 1 diabetes, ensuring you have the latest and most accurate information on managing the disease is critical—especially as children head back to school. When you meet with your diabetes care team, write down questions in advance so you can make the most of your time and leave feeling more prepared than ever.

What should I ask my doctor about my child’s type 1 diabetes?

We’ve compiled a list of questions you should feel comfortable asking your doctor before your child goes back to school this year. Bring a notebook and pen (or plan to take notes on your smartphone) so you can refer to their recommendations as needed.

1. Should I create a diabetes management plan? If you haven’t already, work with your child’s diabetes care team to fill out a management plan—or update the previous year’s plan. Then, share the plan with anyone who plays a part in your child’s school day and after-school care or activities.

2. How does Section 504 relate to my child? Ask your care team about Section 504 and what the school’s responsibilities are to support your child safely and adequately.

3. How can I ensure my child eats healthy at school? Your child’s doctor, nurse or other healthcare providers can offer guidance on nutrition and meal planning while your child is at school.

4. What should I know about exercise, sports and other physical activities? Make sure to have a conversation with your child’s diabetes care team about any exercise, sports or activities your child plans to take part in during the school year. They can help ensure your child has a safe experience.

5. What should my child keep in their diabetes kit? Preparation is key when it comes to managing your child’s diabetes. Confirm with your child’s diabetes care team that you, and where appropriate, your child’s school have the right supplies such as insulin pens, blood sugar meters, glucose tablets, and more.

6. Are there any new medications I should be aware of? Your child’s diabetes care team should be in-the-know about any relevant advances in pediatric diabetes management. You can also ask them if your child should keep a glucagon autoinjector on hand like Gvoke HypoPen^® (glucagon injection) for treatment of very low blood sugar.

What are other ways I can help my child prepare for the school year? Check out this blogpost for tips on getting ready for the back-to-school season.

Where else can I find support for pediatric diabetes? Here are other great resources to check out as you manage your child’s type 1 diabetes diagnosis:

Meet Gvoke HypoPen

Gvoke HypoPen is the ready-to-use rescue pen anyone can administer with confidence¹

In a study with simulated emergency conditions, 99% of people used it correctly¹

Simple to administer at a moment’s notice, like an epinephrine autoinjector for severe allergic reactions

You can even self-administer it in certain situations²

Can be administered to the outer upper arm, lower abdomen or outer thigh³

Brings very low blood sugar back up quickly and safely^3†

INDICATION AND SAFETY SUMMARY

GVOKE is a prescription medicine used to treat very low blood sugar (severe hypoglycemia) in adults and kids with diabetes ages 2 years and above. It is not known if GVOKE is safe and effective in children under 2 years of age.

WARNINGS

Do not use GVOKE if:

you have a tumor in the gland on top of your kidneys (adrenal gland), called a pheochromocytoma.
you have a tumor in your pancreas called an insulinoma.
you are allergic to glucagon or any other inactive ingredient in GVOKE.

GVOKE MAY CAUSE SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS, INCLUDING:

High blood pressure
GVOKE can cause high blood pressure in certain people with tumors in their adrenal glands.

Low blood sugar
GVOKE can cause low blood sugar in certain people with tumors in their pancreas called insulinomas by making too much insulin in their bodies.

Serious allergic reaction
Call your doctor or get medical help right away if you have a serious allergic reaction including:

rash
difficulty breathing
low blood pressure

COMMON SIDE EFFECTS

The most common side effects of GVOKE in adults include:

nausea
vomiting
swelling at the injection site
headache

The most common side effects of GVOKE in children include:

nausea
low blood sugar
high blood sugar
vomiting
abdominal pain
headache
pain or redness at the injection site
itching

These are not all the possible side effects of GVOKE. For more information, ask your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You are encouraged to report side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

BEFORE USING

Before using GVOKE, tell your doctor about all your medical conditions, including if you:

have adrenal gland problems
have a tumor in your pancreas
have not had food or water for a long time (prolonged fasting or starvation)
have low blood sugar that does not go away (chronic hypoglycemia)
are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

HOW TO USE

Read the detailed Instructions for Use that come with GVOKE.
Use GVOKE exactly how your healthcare provider tells you to use it
Make sure your relatives, close friends, and caregivers know where you store GVOKE and how to use it the right way before you need their help.
Act quickly. Having very low blood sugar for a period of time may be harmful.
Your healthcare provider will tell you how and when to use GVOKE.
After giving GVOKE, your caregiver should call for emergency medical help right away.
If you do not respond after 15 minutes, your caregiver may give you another dose, if available. Tell your healthcare provider each time you use GVOKE. Low blood sugar may happen again after receiving an injection of GVOKE. Your diabetes medicine may need to be changed.

HOW TO STORE

Keep GVOKE in the foil pouch until you are ready to use it.
Store GVOKE at temperatures between 68°F and 77°F.
Do not keep it in the refrigerator or let it freeze.

Keep GVOKE and all medicines out of the reach of children.

For more information, call 1-877-937-4737 or go to www.GvokeGlucagon.com.

Please see the Full Prescribing Information for Gvoke