This October, we bring awareness to childhood diabetes, or diabetes mellitus - a chronic medical condition that inhibits the body's ability to change food, especially sugars (carbohydrates), into fuel for the body. High blood glucose from not properly treating the diabetes can damage the heart, blood vessels, kidneys, eyes and nervous system. Whether your child suffers from diabetes or not, it’s important to understand the disease and how to take measures to control it.
We break it down into the two most common forms of diabetes – type 1 and type 2.
Type 1
Children are more likely to be diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. It occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, a type of hormone. Insulin helps process sugar in the body. When there is not enough insulin, sugar (or glucose) builds up in the bloodstream. The sugars pass out of the body in urine, taking water with it.
Although it can happen at any age, there are peak periods a child becomes diabetic: ages 5 to 6 and then again at ages 11 to 13. Often a first sign is an increase in the how often a child urinates, especially at night, and may cause a child who is potty trained to start bedwetting again.
Other key symptoms include: being very thirsty and tired, losing weight, and an increased appetite.
Identifying symptoms of type 1 diabetes early is important. High blood sugar levels and dehydration caused by uncontrolled diabetes is dangerous and can cause children to need intravenous insulin and fluids in a pediatric emergency room or critical care unit.
Type 2
Once called “adult onset" diabetes, as children rarely got it, it is now more evident with rising rates of childhood obesity with some as young as 10 years old.
Risk factors include weight issues, family history, born to a mother with diabetes while pregnant (gestational diabetes), or other medical problems that affect the way the body handles insulin.
Symptoms are similar to type 1 diabetes and may show up gradually. Darkened areas of skin, especially around the neck or in the armpits, are also common.
Controlling and managing both types of diabetes
Although there is no cure for diabetes, children with this disease can lead normal lives if it's kept under control. Managing the disease includes blood sugar monitoring, treatment such as insulin therapy, and maintaining a healthy diet.
Keeping blood sugars within a normal range is important and lowers the risk of long-term health problems related to poor diabetes control. In addition to a healthy diet, at least thirty minutes of exercise a day can help children manage their disease.
What parents can do
It’s important to help your child learn to take on responsibility for caring for their diabetes. Children above the age of 7 typically have the fine motor skills to be able to start giving themselves insulin injections with adult supervision. They can also check their blood sugar several times per day, using simple, chemically treated test strips and a blood sugar meter with supervision.
If your child takes too much insulin: their blood sugar can become too low (hypoglycemia). This can lead to trembling, a rapid heartbeat, nausea, fatigue, weakness, and even loss of consciousness.
If your child takes too little insulin: the major symptoms of diabetes (weight loss, increased urination, thirst, and appetite) can return.
Developing good diabetes management habits when a child is young can have a dramatic impact on their management habits as they get older. Regular check-ups are especially important to identify and treat diabetes in children as early as possible. Talk with your pediatrician if you have any concerns about your child's health.
Source: Healthychildren.org
