Diabetes Childhood Diabetes: Children and teens with type 1 diabetes depend on daily insulin injections or an insulin pump to control their blood glucose levels. Signs And Symptoms Of Type 1 Diabetes:
 A person can have diabetes without knowing it because the symptoms aren't always obvious and they can take a long time to develop. Type 1 diabetes may come on gradually or suddenly. Parents of a child with typical symptoms of type 1 diabetes may notice that their child:
- Urinates frequently
- Is abnormally thirsty
- Loses weight (or fails to gain weight as he or she grows)
- Often feels tired
But in some cases, other symptoms may be the signal that something is wrong. Sometimes the first sign of diabetes is bed wetting in a child who has been dry at night. The possibility of diabetes should be suspected if a vaginal yeast infection (also called a Candida infection) occurs in a girl who hasn't started puberty yet. If these early symptoms of diabetes aren't recognized and treatment isn't started, chemicals called ketones can build up in the child's blood and cause stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, fruity-smelling breath, breathing problems and even loss of consciousness. Sometimes these symptoms are mistaken for the flu or appendicitis. Doctors call this serious condition diabetic-ketoacidosis or DKA. In addition to short term problems like those listed above, diabetes can else cause long term complications in some people, including heart disease, stroke, vision impairment, and kidney damage. Diabetes can also cause other problems throughout the body in the blood vessels, nerves and gums. These problems don't usually show up in kids and teens with type 1 diabetes who have had the disease for only a few years. However, these health problems can occur in adulthood in some people with diabetes, particularly if they haven't managed or controlled their diabetes properly. There's good news, though - proper treatment can stop or control these diabetes symptoms and reduce the risk of long -term problems. Doctors can say for sure if a person has diabetes by testing blood samples for glucose. If you think your child has symptoms of diabetes talk to your child's doctor. If the diagnosis of diabetes is suspected or confirmed, the doctor may refer your child to a pediatric endocrinologist, a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of children with disease of the endocrine system, such as diabetes and growth disorders. Living With Type 1 Diabetes:
Children and teens with diabetes need to monitor and control their glucose. levels. They need to:
 Check blood sugar levels a few times a day by testing a small blood sample.- Give themselves insulin injections, have an adult give them injections, or use an insulin pump
- Eat a balanced, healthy diet and pay special attention to the amounts of sugars and starches in the food they eat and the timing of their meals.
- Get regular exercise to help control blood sugar levels and help avoid some of the long-term health problems that diabetes can cause like heart disease
- Work closely with their doctors and diabetes health care team to help achieve the best possible control of their diabetes and be monitored for signs of diabetes complications and other and other problems that occur more frequently in children with type 1 diabetes.
Living with diabetes is a challenge, no matter what a child's age but young children and teens often have special issues to deal with. Young children may not understand why the blood samples and insulin injections are necessary. They may be scared, angry, and uncooperative. Teens may feel different from their peers and may want to live a more spontaneous lifestyle than their diabetes allows. Even when they faithfully follow their treatment schedule, teens with diabetes may feel frustrated when the natural adolescent body changes during puberty may make their diabetes somewhat harder to control. What's New In The Treatment Of Type 1 Diabetes?
 Some kids and teens are already using devices that make blood glucose testing and insulin injections easier, less painful, and more effective. One of these devices is the insulin pump, a mechanical device which can be used to deliver insulin more like the pancreas does. There's also been progress toward the development of a wearable or implantable "artificial pancreas". This device consists of an insulin pump linked to a device that measure the person's blood glucose level continuously. Doctors and scientists are also investigating a potential cure of diabetes. This involves transplanting insulin-producing cells into the body of a person with diabetes. Researchers are also testing the ways to stop diabetes before it starts. For example, scientists are studying whether diabetes can be prevented in those who may have inherited an increased risk for the disease. Until scientists have have perfected ways to better treat and possibly even prevent or cure diabetes, parents can help their children lead happier, healthier lives by giving constant encouragement, arming themselves with diabetes information, and making sure their children eat properly, exercise, and stay on top of blood sugar control every day. Doing so will enable kids to do all the things that other children do while helping them grow up to be healthy, well adjusted, productive adults. ********************************************* Obesity And Diabetes |
