Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases in children and adolescents, according to the Centers for Disease Control in Prevention, or CDC, with more than 13,000 North American young people diagnosed each year. It is important for parents to know the facts about diabetes in kids so they can implement proactive treatment and prevention methods.
Types
Two types of diabetes affect children: type 1 and type 2. Formerly known as juvenile or insulin-dependent diabetes, type 1 occurs when a child's pancreas fails to produce the insulin needed to survive. Type 1 diabetes usually peaks around puberty.
Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body develops a resistance to insulin and no longer uses it properly. Formerly known as "adult onset" diabetes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, reports increased numbers of children with type 2 diabetes.
Symptoms
The primary signs of type 1 and type 2 diabetes in children are increased thirst, hunger and fatigue; frequent urination; and unexplained weight loss. Some experience dry, itchy skin, tingling or numbness in the feet, and blurry eyesight. While type 1 diabetic symptoms tend to come on rather quickly, type 2 symptoms are slow to develop. For this reason, perhaps as many of 50 percent of people with type 2 diabetes are unaware they have it, according to KeepKidsHealthy.com.
Risk Factors
The main risk factor for type 1 diabetes in children is a family history of type 1 diabetes. On the other hand, type 2 diabetes has many risk factors, including racial makeup, poor eating and drinking habits, and insufficient exercise, according to the Rhode Island Department of Health.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, reports that U.S. children diagnosed with type 2 tend to fall between the ages of 10 and 19, are obese, have a family history of type 2 and have a dark-brown skin lesion on the neck, underarm or groin area known as "Acanthosis Nigricans." American Indian youth are at highest risk for developing type 2 diabetes in the U.S.
Treatment
Treatment for both type 1 and type 2 requires a lifelong commitment to healthy eating, regular exercise and blood sugar monitoring, according to the MayoClinic.com. All children with type 1 diabetes require daily insulin medication, while only some type 2 children require it.
Prevention
While there is no way to prevent type 1 diabetes, lifestyle modifications to achieve a healthy diet, healthy weight and regular exercise into a child's routine can help prevent type 2. In fact, a CDC study determined that people of all ages who made lifestyle changes reduced their risk of type 2 by almost 60 percent.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Type 1 Diabetes in Children
- Rhode Island Department of Health: Diabetes in Children
- Rhode Island Department of Health: Preventing Type 2 Diabetes
- CDC: Children and Diabetes--More Information
- KeepKidsHealthy.com: Symptoms of Diabetes
- MayoClinic.com: Type 2 Diabetes in Children Treatment
