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

Diabetes in children

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Diabetes in children is always harder to accept, making growing up that bit more difficult. It also makes life harder for the parent and this article gives recommendations of what to look for if you suspect your child may be diabetic.

Children Suffering from Diabetes
By Michael Russell

Diabetics suffer from an illness called Diabetes mellitus. This is a condition where there is an abnormally high level of sugar glucose in their blood. It is caused by a deficiency of the hormone insulin, which is produced in the pancreas. The pancreas is a small gland tucked behind the stomach. The carbohydrates found in starchy food such as bread and potatoes, are broken down tin the body to produce glucose. Glucose is the body's main source of energy and travels around in the body via the bloodstream to wherever it is needed. For the body to convert glucose into energy, it needs insulin. People with Diabetes make little or no insulin, so the glucose builds up in the blood reaching dangerously high levels. These high levels of glucose in the bloodstream may cause the person to go into a coma, unless treated medically.

Diabetes in children is becoming more common, for reasons not really understood. In certain children exposure to a virus - possibly a Coxsackie R virus - and/or other environmental factors may trigger off a sequence of events that could eventually lead to diabetes. Diabetes is not contagious. It can develop at any age, but statistics show there are two possible peak ages: early years of primary school or early years of secondary school. Most children affected have Type 1 diabetes (Diabetes mellitus - IDDM). Type 1 diabetes is where the pancreas produces very little or no insulin at all. These patients must inject themselves daily with insulin.

The symptoms of diabetes develop rapidly. The condition is usually diagnosed days after the symptoms appear.

? The child passes enormous amounts of urine.
? Unusual thirst and tiredness
? Weight loss
? Suffers from blurred vision

If these symptoms are not picked up, more serious ones can appear:

? Tummy ache and vomiting
? Heavy, deep breathing
? Smell of acetone on the breath
? The child could go into a coma - This need urgent medical attention

If you notice any of the above symptoms please take your child to your doctor immediately. Your doctor will check glucose levels in the child's urine and blood. If the levels are unusually high your child may be admitted to hospital. Treatment involved is twice - daily injections of insulin needed to bring the diabetes under control. You and your child will be taught how to administer the injections at home. Some children as young as five years, manage to inject themselves. Children usually take one injection before breakfast and the second injection before supper. A pen injector is more convenient to use than the syringe method. The child must rotate the injection site between arms, legs and abdomen to avoid the build up of fatty deposits.

It is also recommended that possibly another member of your family know how to administer injections, recognize signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and how to treat it with a fast-acting carbohydrate. The child should be given foods such as honey, soft sweets or glucose tablets. If blood sugar levels drop too quickly they should be given an injection of glucagons. Blood sugar levels need to be monitored four times per day. This is very easy to do at home on finger prick samples of blood. Urine tests give a rough estimate of glucose levels.

Children with diabetes do not need a special diet, although they should eat regular meals, with sufficient starchy carbohydrates and fibre, with little fat and sugar. Control of diabetes depends on a careful balance of food intake, exercise and insulin. This may be more challenging in the teenage years.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Diabetics

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell

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