Children are the gift of God. But sometimes this gift has to suffer the trauma of diabetes.
Yes! You read it right.
Research shows that young people (with special reference to children) who develop diabetes are more likely to face health issues throughout their life. At such a tender age, children may not be able to track the changes happening in their body. So it is up to the parents to keep a check on the warning signs of diabetes in children.
Diabetes management in children is crucial. As a parent, you need to wake up and check for the causes of diabetes in your child.
Let us begin!
Warning signs of diabetes in children
Type 1 Diabetes
The most common symptoms of type 1 diabetes among children are:
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Increased thirst and frequent urination
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Hunger
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Unexplained weight loss
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Fatigue and tiredness
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Irritability
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The fruity smell on the breath or bad breath
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Blurred vision
Type 2 Diabetes
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Frequent urination, especially at night
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Thirst
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Tiredness
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Unexplained weight loss
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Genital infection, especially with a yeast infection
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Slow healing of wounds
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Blurred vision
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Darkened skin
As you can notice, a few symptoms are common for both types of diabetes. In some cases, only one or two symptoms become visible. There are some cases where no signs show up, which make things worse. One should be aware of the symptoms to facilitate timely diagnosis and treatment.
Causes of diabetes in children
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Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is mainly caused when the immune system attacks the pancreas. Consequently, insulin production gets impaired.
Another prominent cause is a genetic factor. Children whose parents have type 1 diabetes are at a higher risk of developing the disease. In such a case, you should be proactive and monitor the health of your child regularly.
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Type 2 Diabetes
Development of type 2 diabetes is majorly caused by obesity among children. Being overweight is a curse as it increases the likelihood of insulin resistance. The body becomes unable to regulate insulin, which can further cause serious health problems.
Another reason is shared commonly by both types of diabetes, which is the genetic factor. If one or both parents have this condition, children are likely to develop diabetes. Over time, this can take a massive form and affect the overall health of the person.
Treatment for children with diabetes
Treatment for type 2 diabetes in children is similar to treatment for adults. Before treating it medically, one should try to resolve this problem by controlling, which can be done in the following ways:
- Blood glucose monitoring
Diabetes in children makes up to a sensitive case. It requires daily blood sugar monitoring at home which will further help to get the required treatment. It will also enable one to check the responsiveness of the child to the treatment.
- Diet & exercise
Diet and exercise can transform the whole scenario. Keep a proper check on the carbohydrates intake of your child. This will also keep the weight of your child in control.
After all the prerequisites, there comes the option of insulin and other medications.
- Rapid-acting insulin
There are insulin therapies such as lispro, aspart, and glulisine. These start working within 15 minutes and lasts 4 hours.
- Short-acting insulin
This therapy includes human insulin which should be injected 20 to 30 minutes before a meal and lasts four to six hours.
- Intermediate-acting insulin
NPH insulin starts within one hour and lasts 12 to 24 hours
- Long-lasting insulin
This includes therapies like insulin glargine and insulin detemir and lasts for 20 to 26 hours.
Best hospital in Amritsar for Diabetes treatment
Treatment needs constant monitoring of the child’s health by the doctor and the parents. Get in touch with the best doctor as soon as you identify any symptom.
Smt. Paarvati Devi Hospital is the right place to get diabetes cured, not only among children but also among adults. Delay in getting treatment can worsen the condition.
Call us or visit the hospital to discuss your concerns. We are ready to help you.