Diabetes in children: Warning signs parents should look out for

Imagine your child suddenly feeling dizzy and becoming unconscious without any warning. This is sometimes one of the first signs that parents get that their child has type1 diabetes.

Diabetes is usually considered a disease that older people are prone to. However, there is a growing number of children who are being diagnosed with the condition.

The actual cause of diabetic conditions is not well known, but genetics is said to play a role in why a person may end up developing the disease.

In adults, diabetes has been largely linked to lifestyle and dietary habits.

Prof Andrew Otim, a diabetes specialist at Nakasero Hospital, describes the condition as an illness that results from the metabolic derangement of sugar, fats and proteins.

This happens as a result of either absolute or relative deficiency of insulin in the body. If the level of all these metabolites--sugar, fats and proteins are abnormally elevated, then a person is at a high risk of developing diabetes.

There are two types of diabetes, type 1 and type 2. Type 2 diabetes is an autoimmune disease resulting from destruction of beta cells due to the aggressive nature of a person’s body.

Prof. Otim explains that type1 diabetes is mainly as a result of the body’s failure to produce sufficient insulin which is a hormone produced by the pancreas, in response to elevations of these metabolites

Type 1 diabetes is also known to be hereditary. Therefore, children whose parents have this type of diabetes are a higher risk of developing it too.

Prof Otim says type 2 diabetes on the other hand is as a result of the body’s failure to respond to insulin or if the specific cells (b- cells) of the pancreas are damaged. He also notes that a bigger percentage of the people that have diabetes are mainly susceptible to type 2 diabetes which is usually characterised by overweight and obesity.

He adds that type 2 diabetes is a lifestyle disease, mainly as a result of unexercised muscles and tissues that affect the overall action of insulin and reduce capacity of the body to utilise glucose. Stress resulting from injury, infections, pregnancy as well as mental tension may increase the chances of one being diabetic.

While any one at any age could become diabetic, type 2 diabetes mainly shows during the middle age or later. Prof Otim says gaining weight in old age could also be a sign that one could be diabetic and 80 percent of all diabetes cases are among people who are over 50 years.

He also says that the onset of diabetes in children is very slow and the changes are subtle. Diabetes in children is often not recognised until the child is very ill.

However, warning signs can include increased thirst, frequent urination, infectious skin, dizziness, and loss of weight.

Although managing your child’s condition may be a daunting task for you as a parent with the many things that can affect sugar levels, a little extra knowledge can go a long way in helping you.

The diet of your child is very important; a high intake of foods containing carbohydrates could greatly be responsible for the aggravation of type 2 diabetes, and therefore should be avoided.

The intake of foods containing sugar, honey, soft drinks and artificially sweetened milk and milk products, fruits with high sugar content, oily foods and alcohol beverages should also be limited.

A healthy meal that contains whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetables is always recommended for diabetic children. Parents who have diabetic children are always encouraged to replace high-fat foods with low-fat options, such as low-fat turkey, reduced-fat cheese, and skim milk.

Besides maintaining a strict diet, diabetic children should also keep physically fit and active. Participating in physical activity can help children to improve their blood sugar control.

Parents are also encouraged to teach their children how to administer insulin on their own, so that when the parents are not present, the children are able to treat any episodes of high or low blood sugar. These supplies usually include blood glucose meter, testing strips, lancets, and extra batteries for the meter, ketone testing supplies, insulin and syringes, antiseptic wipes and water.

For children who wear an insulin pump, backup insulin and syringes are recommended in case of pump failure. Glucose tablets or other fast-acting glucose snacks should also be on hand at all times.

Young children are at the greatest risk of very low blood sugar, because they are often not able to communicate symptoms. Knowing your child’s blood sugar level helps you treat low or high blood sugar before it becomes an emergency.

It also helps you know how exercise and food affect your child’s blood sugar and how much short-acting insulin to administer.

Treatment for diabetes
Successful treatment makes all the difference to long-term health and achieving the right diabetes treatment.

However, it is always advisable for parents with diabetic children to have a management strategy with a health care team, in order to monitor the health and progress of their diabetic child.

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