Letter to Coach

Date: ___________

Dear Coach,

This letter is on behalf of _____________________ who is participating in ________________ this year. Although we do not want to single out people with diabetes, there are things that you need to be aware of to help _____________'s performance and enjoyment of the sport.

Exercise is very important for children and adolescents with diabetes. The overall effect of exercise is to lower blood sugar. We hope ______________ will take the right amount of insulin and eat according to the anticipated activity for the day. However, even when these things are done, there may be times, especially with increased activity, when he/she may have an "insulin reaction," a low blood sugar, a condition requiring immediate attention. The symptoms of an insulin reaction include one or more of the following: shakiness, dizziness, sweating, rapid onset of extreme hunger or tiredness, and paleness. Some people complain of double vision and headaches. You may also notice _________________'s performance to suddenly become very poor, or his/her overall mood may change to being very crabby or emotional.

If a low blood sugar occurs, a can of fruit juice, 8 oz of Gatorade, or 2 teaspoons of sugar followed in 5-10 minutes by solid food (fruit, cheese and crackers, or a sandwich) will help correct this condition. He/She should rest for a minimum of 10 minutes to let the blood sugar return to normal. However, some children will still have a headache and may not feel like continuing. We encourage families to be prepared for insulin reactions at all times by having the proper foods available.

Many people with diabetes will change their insulin dose on days they anticipate a practice or game. The scheduling (or cancellation) of these events ahead of time helps the person (and parents) to be prepared.

Again, it is very important for youth with diabetes to be involved in sports. It helps with their sugar control and allows their insulin to work more effectively. A person with diabetes should not be and does not want to be treated differently because of having diabetes. Please do not hesitate to call if you need more information or have any concerns. Our phone number is ____________________.

Sincerely,