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Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood. It is estimated that globally, around 70,000 children under 15 develop type 1 diabetes each year. Type 2 diabetes was once known as a disease of adults but today it is growing at alarming rates in children and adolescents.
Diabetes can affect children of any age. If not detected early then diabetes can have fatal effects on your child’s health. Therefore, every parent and every one involved in the care of children should be familiar with the warning signs that indicate the presence of diabetes.
The Warning Signs…
- Frequent urination in children, a recurrence of bed-wetting after toilet training has been completed
- Excessive thirst
- Extreme hunger
- Sudden weight loss
- Weakness
- Lack of interest and concentration and irritability
- Blurred vision
- Nausea, vomiting and stomach pain
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 Diabetes is also called Juvenile Diabetes as the onset of it begins in childhood. Here, the sufferer produces no or insufficient insulin. Children who are diagnosed with juvenile diabetes are insulin dependent. Insulin is the hormone that enables our body to convert the food we eat into energy, which is essential to function normally. Juvenile diabetes is considered as an auto-immune disorder, similar to other disorders like rheumatoid arthritis or multiple sclerosis.
Type 2 Diabetes
Usually occurs in adults but new research indicates that youngsters may develop type 2 diabetes as well. The symptoms of type 2 diabetes may appear more subtle. In type 2 diabetes, the patient’s body cannot effectively use the insulin produced.
Management…
Without adequate medical treatment and supervision, serious health problems can arise which include long term complications like heart problems, blindness, nerve damage that can ultimately cause loss of limbs, and kidney failure.
In all cases of type 1 diabetes, the pancreas does not manufacture insulin and without natural insulin, the body cannot metabolize glucose from the food we eat and hence, no energy will be produced. Therefore, in order to live, insulin is essential. In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas will still manufacture insulin, however oral medication and a proper diet is needed to offset the symptoms.
Children with diabetes need to know about what they eat because the sugar in food affects the levels of sugar in the blood. Doctors and dietitians figure out how many carbohydrates a kid with diabetes needs at meals and snacks. They also decide how much insulin he/she needs to take. Balancing the right amount of insulin with the food he/she eats helps keep his/her blood sugar at a healthy level. Exercising is good for kids with diabetes as it helps kids with diabetes control their blood sugars as well as it keeps their bodies in good shape.
Kids suffering from diabetes are required to take extra precautions for maintaining a healthy life but that does not stop them from doing what they like. They can play sports, games, participate in contests and do all other activities their peers enjoy. So, it is important to diagnose diabetes early so as to let the child lead a normal life. So dear parents, get aware to save your kids from the complications of diabetes.
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