Type 2 Diabetes - Managing Diabetes In Children

It always tugs at the heart when a child suffers from any kind of disease. Diabetes is no exception to this. Although, Type 1 diabetes is the most common form among children, Type 2 diabetes is increasing among children as well. This is due to our world's high increase in obesity.

In Type 1 diabetes, the pancreas has an inability to produce insulin in the body... the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, called beta cells, have been destroyed or are unable to produce insulin. With Type 1 diabetes, blood sugar levels stay high because there is no insulin around to deliver the sugar to the cells... blood sugar will remain elevated unless injections of insulin are given. The body actually attacks its own tissue or organs making it an autoimmune disease.

The cause of diabetes in children is a mystery. One theory is it's in the child's genes, or environmental. However, most often children diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes do not have a family history of diabetes. The symptoms in children are similar to those in adults with a few exceptions. The most common symptoms to look for are:

excessive thirst,weight loss,tiredness, orfrequent urination.

There are some differences from adults and children. Children tend to have stomach pains, headaches, and behavior problems. If there are unexplained problems with stomach pains or illnesses in a child for a few weeks, a doctor should consider the possibility of diabetes.

If your child is diagnosed with diabetes they will be assigned a diabetes team. This team, along with the parents, will develop an insulin or medication routine. Most often, a fast acting insulin regimen is used during the day and a slow acting regimen at night. If a child is very young, only one insulin injection at night will be needed, but as they grow older they will need two injections a day. Eventually, they may be able to rely on an insulin pump.

Insulin treatment is not enough. Children need good blood sugar control and they need to avoid low blood sugar attacks, otherwise known as, hypoglycemia. This is important because problems with diabetes increase over the length of time diabetes has been present in the body.

Children with diabetes can put a great stress on the family... children present with special issues that adults with diabetes do not have. Many doctors believe if a child has diabetes, the whole family takes on the burden of diabetes because everyone must adjust to it. It's important for parents to surround themselves with a support team. Also, a good understanding of the disease and its treatment is crucial.

The diabetes team can teach you how to give insulin injections and educate you on the symptoms of low blood sugar. As your child gets older, there will be certain things you will need to teach them. For example, you will help them learn how to measure their blood sugar levels and how to administer their own insulin injections. It's also very important to educate your child's school and friends about the symptoms of low sugar and what to do about it.

A child being diagnosed with diabetes is scary, but it is manageable. It's important for parents to be educated and educate others who are involved with their child.

To discover answers to questions you may be asking yourself about Type 2 Diabetes, click on this link... Natural Diabetes Treatments