Diabetes isn't just a disease that affects adults. Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases in children and adolescents, affecting approximately 151,000 Americans under the age of 20, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Familiarize yourself with the symptoms so you will recognize signs of the disease in your child.
Identification
Diabetes occurs when there is too much sugar, or glucose, in the blood. Glucose travels through your bloodstream to provide energy to every part of your body. Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, is needed to process the glucose so that it can be effectively used by the body. When your child's pancreas does not produce enough insulin, too much glucose stays in the bloodstream. Over time, extra glucose can damage the kidneys, eyes and nerves, and may cause a stroke or heart disease, according to Medline Plus.
Types
Type 1 diabetes, formerly called juvenile diabetes, is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, according to the American Diabetes Association. If your child has Type 1 diabetes, he produces little or no insulin. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body has insulin but doesn't use it properly. Type 2 diabetes can occur at any age.
Symptoms
Symptoms of either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes may include extreme thirst, frequent urination, unusual hunger, blurred vision, slow-healing wounds, fatigue, yeast infections, urinary tract infections, tingling in the hands or feet or weight loss. MayoClinic.com reports that babies and young children with Type 1 diabetes may be lethargic and dehydrated. They also may experience abdominal pain or have severe diaper rash caused by a yeast infection. Children with Type 2 diabetes may develop acanthosis nigricans, a dark, thick area of skin folds around the neck that won't wash off, according to Texas Children's Hospital.
Risk Factors
Diabetes may develop in people who inherit a predisposition to developing the disease. While Type 1 diabetes can be inherited, the American Diabetes Association reports that often there is little or no history of Type 1 diabetes in the family. An inherited susceptibility alone isn't enough to trigger diabetes. You must also experience an environmental trigger, such as living in a cold climate in the case of Type 1 diabetes, according the American Diabetes Association. Type 2 diabetes occurs most often in people who have an inherited predisposition and who are obese, or who eat a high- fat diet and get little exercise.
Treatment
Treatment of children is similar to treatment of adults with diabetes. If you child has Type 1 diabetes, she will need to take insulin to replace the insulin that her body no longer makes. Children with Type 2 diabetes may be able to control the disease by making dietary changes, or they may need to take insulin. Exercising and losing weight can also help. All diabetic children must eat healthy food and check blood sugar levels frequently to ensure that levels are within the normal range. If your child's blood-glucose levels vary widely, despite careful monitoring, your doctor may suggest an insulin pump. The pump is worn outside the body and delivers pre-programmed amounts of insulin through a catheter to the abdomen, according to MayoClinic.com.
