Type 1 Diabetes and Moving Between Homes: Creating Consistent Care for Your Child
When a child lives between two parents' homes, stays regularly with grandparents, spends time with other family members or is cared for by foster parents, Type 1 Diabetes adds another layer of planning to everyday life.
Insulin needs don't pause at handover. Neither do CGM alerts, unexpected hypos, changes in appetite or the need to replace a pump site. A sensor might be running low on supplies just as your child is getting ready to leave, or one household may not know about a recent change to their diabetes management plan.
These situations can be stressful, but they don't have to become a constant source of worry.
The aim isn't for every household to run identically. It's to make sure that everyone caring for your child has the information, supplies and confidence they need to support them safely, while helping your child feel secure wherever they are.
With clear communication, shared responsibilities and a little forward planning, diabetes care can become a more manageable part of moving between homes.
1. Agree on a Shared Approach to Diabetes Care
Communication is Everything
When diabetes care is shared between households, good communication is one of the most important things you can establish. Everyone involved needs to understand the child's usual routine, know what to do when something unexpected happens and have a reliable way of sharing important updates.
This includes understanding how your child's diabetes technology works, how to recognise and treat hypos, what to do when glucose levels are high, when to check ketones and who to contact if there is a concern.
Communication is particularly important when something changes. Illness, growth spurts, puberty, stress, disrupted sleep, exercise and changes in school routines can all affect glucose levels. Technology problems or adjustments agreed with the diabetes team also need to be communicated promptly.
A shared messaging group, diary or digital record can help, provided everyone knows where to find the information they need. The aim is to avoid situations where one caregiver is working with outdated information or the child is left explaining changes between adults.
Agree Who Is Responsible for What
It helps to establish responsibilities before problems arise. Discuss who will order prescriptions, collect supplies, monitor stock levels, check expiry dates and make sure essential equipment is available at each home.
It is also worth agreeing on what happens when arrangements change unexpectedly, such as an extra overnight stay or a last minute change of plans.
Where several adults share responsibility, clarity matters. No one should have to assume that someone else has ordered insulin or packed the supplies needed for the next few days.
2. Make Sure Every Caregiver Knows What to Do
Training and Confidence Matter
Anyone responsible for your child's diabetes care should have the appropriate training and understand what they may need to do independently.
Depending on your child's age, treatment and technology, this may include:
Blood glucose monitoring and understanding when a finger prick check may be needed.
Using a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM), including recognising alarms and alerts.
Understanding the child's insulin pump or injection routine.
Recognising and treating hypoglycemia (low blood glucose).
Understanding how to respond to hyperglycemia (high blood glucose) and when ketones should be checked.
Following the child's sick day and pump failure plans, where applicable.
Knowing when to seek urgent medical help and how to access emergency treatment.
Never assume that a caregiver understands how a particular device works simply because they have looked after your child before. Diabetes technology changes, and even experienced caregivers may need updated training.
If a caregiver is unfamiliar with a pump, CGM or other equipment, arrange appropriate instruction with the diabetes team rather than relying on guesswork.
Keep the Healthcare Plan Accessible
A current Healthcare Plan (HCP) or diabetes management plan is one of the most valuable tools for coordinating care between households.
Depending on the child's circumstances, this may include their clinical diabetes management instructions and a separate healthcare plan for school or another care setting. Make sure each caregiver has access to the relevant, up to date information.
The plan should cover the areas applicable to your child, including:
Insulin doses and prescribed settings.
Pump and CGM information.
Individual glucose targets and monitoring arrangements.
How to recognise and treat hypos.
Guidance for managing high glucose levels and checking ketones.
Sick day guidance and when to seek medical advice.
What to do if a pump or other device fails.
Emergency contacts and diabetes team details.
Your child's diabetes healthcare team can help ensure the plan contains the information needed for safe care. Review it whenever there are significant changes to treatment, technology or the child's needs.
Caregivers should follow the agreed instructions and contact the diabetes team when they are unsure what to do. Insulin doses and device settings should not be changed simply because a different household prefers a different approach.
3. Keep Diabetes Supplies Organised
Make Sure Essential Supplies Are Available at Each Home
Having duplicate supplies available can prevent unnecessary stress.
Where possible, keeping duplicate supplies at each home can reduce the risk of forgotten equipment and make transitions less stressful for everyone involved. The exact arrangements will depend on your child's treatment, the amount of time spent at each location and the equipment they use.
Depending on the child's needs, essential supplies may include:
Insulin and the appropriate delivery equipment.
Blood glucose meter, test strips and lancets.
Ketone meter and compatible ketone test strips.
Fast acting glucose treatments.
CGM sensors and other required consumables.
Spare pump supplies, such as infusion sets and reservoirs or cartridges, where applicable.
Back up insulin pens and needles, as specified in the child's management plan.
Batteries and charging cables for relevant devices.
A portable charger or power bank, where appropriate.
An in date, prescribed glucagon emergency treatment.
Longer acting carbohydrate snacks, where appropriate for the child's individual plan.
Not every item will apply to every child. Use these lists as a starting point and adapt them to your child's treatment, technology and diabetes team's advice.
A missing sensor or infusion set can quickly become a major problem if supplies are only stored at one location.
If your child uses an insulin pump, make sure caregivers understand the agreed pump failure plan and know how to access the prescribed back up treatment if the pump stops working.
Remember: insulin must be stored according to the instructions for the specific product, including its temperature requirements. Protect it from excessive heat and freezing, and check the manufacturer's guidance about storage after opening.
Create a Dedicated Diabetes Bag
A designated diabetes bag can make moving between homes, school, sports activities and overnight stays much easier.
Keeping supplies together makes them easier to find, helps reduce the chance of forgetting essential items and gives your child a familiar place to look when they need something.
The main diabetes bag might contain monitoring equipment, insulin supplies, spare device consumables, hypo treatments, charging equipment, adhesive products and a copy of the relevant management plan.
It should be checked regularly and restocked whenever supplies run low. Make sure medication and consumables are within their expiry dates and stored appropriately.
As children and teenagers grow, they can gradually take a greater role in checking their bags and recognising when something needs replacing. This is an opportunity to develop confidence and self management skills, with support from the adults around them.
Prepare a Smaller School or Day Bag
A smaller kit can be useful for school, sports, social activities and shorter trips away from home.
Depending on the child's management plan, this might include:
Blood glucose meter, test strips, finger pricker and lancets.
Ketone testing equipment, where required.
Fast acting glucose treatment.
Back up insulin and delivery equipment, if advised in the child's plan.
Essential pump or CGM equipment.
A compatible receiver, pump controller or phone, where needed.
Charging equipment or a power bank, where appropriate.
Emergency contact information.
Check what needs to be available within the child's school or care setting, particularly for younger children who may need adult assistance. A diabetes kit should complement the agreed arrangements for care, not replace the support a child needs.
4. Make Everyday Transitions Easier
Keep a Shared Record of Important Changes
A shared diabetes diary, notebook or digital record can help caregivers stay informed without having to remember every detail of a busy day.
Rather than recording every glucose reading, focus on information that may affect the next caregiver or need follow up. This might include significant hypos, illness, device problems, changes agreed with the diabetes team, unusual activity or supplies that need replacing.
If your family already uses a diabetes app or shared technology platform, some of this information may be available there.
The purpose is to support continuity of care, not to create extra administration or monitor every aspect of a child's day. As children become teenagers, their privacy and growing independence should also be considered when deciding what information is shared and how.
Keep Hypo Treatments and Suitable Snacks Available
Every home where your child stays should have appropriate hypo treatments readily available. These should be easy for caregivers to find and should be checked regularly to ensure supplies have not been used up or passed their expiry dates.
Fast acting glucose treatment is used to treat a hypo according to the child's individual instructions. Some children may also need a longer acting carbohydrate snack afterwards, depending on their treatment plan, insulin on board, activity levels and circumstances.
Examples of suitable snacks, where appropriate, include crackers, oatcakes, cereal bars, bread or fruit. The right choice and timing will depend on the child and the guidance provided by their diabetes team.
Make sure caregivers understand the difference between treating a hypo and providing a routine snack. Follow the child's individual hypo treatment instructions rather than assuming that the same approach is appropriate every time.
Make Regular Stock Checks Part of the Routine
A simple weekly stock check can prevent avoidable problems. It is also helpful to review supplies before bank holidays, school holidays, long weekends and trips away, when obtaining replacements may be more difficult.
Check insulin and glucagon expiry dates, sensor and pump consumables, blood glucose and ketone strips, glucose treatments, batteries and charging equipment. Confirm that prescriptions have been ordered when needed.
Agreeing on a regular day for these checks can make the task easier to remember. Where more than one household shares responsibility, decide who checks which supplies and how shortages will be communicated.
Keep Emergency Information Easy to Find
Every household should have an accessible list of important contact details, including the child's parents or guardians, other relevant caregivers, diabetes team and emergency contacts.
Make sure everyone knows where the child's prescribed glucagon emergency treatment is stored and understands how and when to use it, following their training and the child's emergency instructions.
Caregivers should also know when a situation requires urgent medical assistance. In an emergency in the UK, call 999 where appropriate.
5. Support the Child, Not Just the Diabetes
For a child moving between homes, diabetes can sometimes mean navigating different routines, expectations and ways of doing things. They may find themselves reminding adults about supplies, explaining a device or worrying that something important has been left behind.
That is a lot for a child to carry alongside everything else involved in growing up.
Where possible, the adults around them should take responsibility for communicating, planning and keeping essential supplies available. Children and teenagers can gradually take on more responsibility as their confidence and maturity develop, but they should not feel that keeping everyone organised is their job.
Consistency also means giving children space to enjoy ordinary childhood experiences without making every conversation about glucose levels, food or diabetes management.
It is worth checking in with your child about how they feel about moving between homes. They may have concerns they have not voiced, such as being uncomfortable asking a particular caregiver for help, worrying about forgotten equipment or feeling different because of their diabetes.
Listening to these concerns and working together on practical solutions can help them feel more secure. For teenagers, involving them in decisions about their routines and how information is shared can support their growing independence.
When caregivers work together, children can feel reassured that the adults around them are sharing the responsibility. That sense of support matters just as much as having the right equipment in the right place.
A Team Around Your Child
Managing Type 1 Diabetes across different homes takes planning, patience and cooperation. There may be different routines, unexpected changes and the occasional forgotten item, but the aim is not to achieve perfection.
It is to make sure that everyone caring for your child feels prepared, that important information is shared and that your child knows they are supported wherever they are.
As children grow, consistency also gives them a stronger foundation for developing confidence and independence in their own diabetes care.
The best handover is one where your child can settle into their next home without feeling that they have to carry their diabetes alone. With the right preparation and a team of adults working together, that can become an achievable part of everyday life.
T1D Wave Rider: Diabetes Bag and Handover Checklists
These checklists are designed to help families organise diabetes supplies and make transitions between homes easier. They are a starting point rather than a universal medical checklist. Adapt them to your child's diabetes technology, prescribed treatment, individual management plan and advice from their diabetes team.
1. Main Diabetes Bag Checklist
Monitoring Supplies
☐ Blood glucose meter
☐ Blood glucose test strips
☐ Finger pricker (lancing device)
☐ Lancets
☐ Ketone meter and compatible ketone test strips, or the appropriate strips for a combined meter
Insulin Supplies
☐ Insulin, stored appropriately
☐ Insulin pen(s), if used
☐ Pen needles, if used
☐ Back up insulin delivery equipment, as advised
☐ Insulin pump supplies, if used
☐ Infusion sets and reservoirs or cartridges, if applicable
☐ Pump batteries, if required
CGM and Device Supplies
☐ Spare CGM sensor(s), if appropriate
☐ Transmitter, if applicable
☐ Sensor stickers or overpatches, if used
☐ CGM receiver, if used
☐ Pump controller or receiver, if applicable
☐ Charging cable(s)
☐ Portable charger or power bank, if appropriate
☐ Spare batteries, where needed
Hypo and Emergency Supplies
☐ Fast acting glucose treatment
☐ Longer acting carbohydrate snack, if appropriate
☐ Prescribed, in date glucagon emergency treatment
☐ Emergency contact list
☐ Current Healthcare Plan (HCP) or diabetes management instructions
Skin Care and Adhesive Supplies
☐ Adhesive wipes, if used
☐ Adhesive remover wipes, if used
☐ Barrier wipes, if used
Before packing: Check that medication is in date, supplies are stored correctly and all equipment is compatible with your child's devices.
2. School or Day Bag Checklist
☐ Blood glucose meter and test strips, if required
☐ Finger pricker and lancets, if required
☐ Ketone testing equipment, as advised
☐ Fast acting glucose treatment
☐ Back up insulin pen, needles and insulin, if specified in the child's plan
☐ Essential CGM supplies, if appropriate
☐ CGM receiver or phone, if needed
☐ Pump controller or receiver, if applicable
☐ Essential pump back up supplies, as advised
☐ Charging cable or portable charger/power bank, if appropriate
☐ Emergency contact information
Check the school's arrangements with the family and diabetes team so that the kit is appropriate for the child's needs and the support available during the school day.
3. Weekly Diabetes Stock Check
☐ Check insulin expiry dates, spare amount and storage
☐ Check prescribed glucagon expiry date
☐ Check CGM sensor stock
☐ Check pump consumables and back up supplies
☐ Check blood glucose test strip stock
☐ Check ketone strip stock and compatibility
☐ Check hypo treatment supplies
☐ Check suitable snack supplies
☐ Check batteries and charging equipment
☐ Check that emergency contact details are current
☐ Check prescriptions have been ordered, if needed
☐ Replace anything used, damaged or out of date
Repeat the check before school holidays, bank holidays, long weekends and trips away.
4. Before Leaving for Another Home
Essential Supplies
☐ Confirm that the required diabetes bag is packed
☐ Check that insulin and essential delivery equipment are available
☐ Check that monitoring and ketone testing equipment are available, as needed
☐ Check that hypo treatments are packed
☐ Check that required pump and CGM supplies are available
☐ Pack essential chargers, batteries and receivers, where applicable
☐ Confirm that prescribed emergency treatment is accessible
Handover Information
☐ Share any significant recent hypos or other concerns
☐ Communicate illness or anything else affecting diabetes management
☐ Share relevant changes agreed with the diabetes team
☐ Explain any current device problems or alarms that need attention
☐ Flag supplies that are running low or need reordering
☐ Confirm any appointments, school events or activities that may affect the routine
☐ Make sure the next caregiver knows where to find the Healthcare Plan (HCP), diabetes management instructions and emergency contacts
A printed copy of these checklists can be kept in both homes, inside the main diabetes bag or on the refrigerator. Adapt them as your child's needs change, and use the handover checklist to help ensure that important information travels with your child.
