Type 1 diabetes in children is a serious condition that happens when the pancreas ceases production of the necessary amounts of insulin required for the body to change glucose, or sugar, into energy. The actual cause of type 1 diabetes in children is yet unknown; however there are some hypotheses that a genetic condition or certain viruses can put someone at elevated risk of acquiring the condition. Even though there isn’t a cure, there are ways to successfully manage type 1 diabetes to maintain stable levels of insulin and blood glucose so the diabetic can function normally. Here’s a look the symptoms of type 1 diabetes in children, as well as the approaches to diabetes treatment and management of the condition.
The signs of type 1 diabetes in children are very much like those experienced by adults with this disease. Frequently the first sign of trouble is excessive thirst and more frequent urination. This is a result of high blood glucose levels which are drawing out essential fluids from the body’s tissues. If you’re a parent, you might hear your child complaining about being overly tired, suffering from blurry vision or being unusually hungry. A girl might also develop yeast infections; in a very young child this can resemble diaper rash.
If type 1 diabetes in children is suspected, formal diagnosis of the condition is conducted through a blood screening to determine the glucose levels in the blood. This can be performed at random or following a time of fasting. If the glucose levels are significantly elevated, diabetes is usually the official diagnosis. The physician might also perform other tests to establish if the condition is type 1 or type 2 diabetes. The latter is more typically an adult condition. Type 1 diabetes in children is monitored carefully by health care professionals until such time as the patient and family are skilled at administering diabetes treatment and the blood glucose levels are successfully under control.
Management of type 1 diabetes in children is much the same as when an adult has the condition. Since it can be hard for children to understand that they will have this problem for life, the family and health care providers can assist by dealing with it one day at a time. Blood glucose monitoring will normally be performed about three times each day to be certain that they are in an appropriate range. Since the system isn’t creating enough insulin, injections will have to given each day in order to keep sugar from accumulating in the blood. A pump can be useful for children because it makes delivery of the insulin somewhat more comfortable.
Another factor in managing type 1 diabetes in children is to make sure they are eating properly and getting regular exercise. If a child learns early on how to successfully manage the condition, he or she will have a solid foundation of healthy habits that will let them live a normal life.