Surgery

Surgery is not a routine treatment for type 1 diabetes, and children do not meet the criteria for the surgeries that are available. Surgeries for type 1 diabetes are:

• Surgery to replace the pancreas (pancreas transplant), possibly while receiving another organ, such as a kidney.
• Surgery to insert working pancreas cells (islet cell transplant). This procedure is still experimental.

Other Treatment

You'll hear about products that promise a "cure" for type 1 diabetes. Avoid them. No such cure exists. Also, avoid products for diabetes that are advertised only by "satisfied customers." These products or remedies may be harmful and costly. They also might cause you to delay or avoid getting treatment for your child that really works. If you have questions about a product for diabetes, check with your local American Diabetes Association office, your doctor, or a diabetes educator.

Other types of meal plans

You may hear of people with diabetes following other types of meal plans or using low glycemic index foods to prevent high blood sugar levels after meals. Talk with a registered dietitian before trying a new meal plan.

Complementary therapies

Complementary therapies such as relaxation techniques may help relieve stress and muscle tension and improve your child's overall well-being and quality of life. None of these complementary therapies are proved to effectively treat diabetes. But children may benefit from safe, nontraditional therapies that complement their current treatment.

Do not use complementary therapies alone to treat your child's diabetes.

Talk with your child's doctor if you are using any of the following or other complementary or alternative therapies to treat your child's diabetes:

• Acupuncture
• Biofeedback
• Chiropractic therapy
• Herbal medicines and natural substances, such as antioxidants, vanadium, magnesium, or chromium.
• Osteopathy