Type I diabetes is one of the most common childhood diseases in America; 1 in 600 children has it, according to the American Diabetes Association. With type I diabetes, your child's pancreas stops producing insulin, which may happen suddenly without warning. Type II diabetes is on the rise, diagnosed in children as young as 12 years old. Once called adult-onset diabetes, children with type II diabetes still produce some insulin, but their bodies don't use it effectively.
Symptoms of Diabetes in Children
Because type I diabetes can occur without warning, you may mistake the symptoms, which include fatigue, weakness, blurred vision, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, for the flu. Other telltale signs include weight loss with an increased appetite, extreme thirst and frequent urination. Only a blood glucose test can diagnose diabetes.
Type II diabetes often starts slowly and may go undiagnosed for months. The illness occurs most frequently in overweight children with a family history of diabetes. Excess fat and the hormones of puberty can interferes with your child's ability to use insulin effectively, which is why type II diabetes is often diagnosed between the ages of 12 and 14.
Target Glucose Levels
In general, children are at a higher risk for low blood sugar, and their target blood sugar ranges are higher than those of adults. For very young children up to age 6, blood sugar levels should not fall below 100 mg/dL and can safely rise as high as 200 mg/dL at bedtime to protect against nighttime hypoglycemia. Children ages 6 to 12 should have glucose levels between 90 and 180 mg/dL and adolescents between 13 and 19 years old should have glucose readings between 90 and 130 mg/dL during the day but as high as 150 mg/dL before bed.
Coping With Diabetes
Children with diabetes may feel alienated from their peers or believe that they are being punished. Your child may be afraid, angry or uncooperative about treatment. Help your child learn to treat his diabetes by teaching him the importance of a healthy diet, the impact that carbohydrates---particularly sweets and junk food---have on his glucose levels, the positive effect of exercise and staying active, why monitoring his glucose levels is critical for good health and how to take diabetes medication and insulin correctly. Once your child is old enough, allow him to practice self-care to foster a sense of independence and self-esteem.
Dangers of Diabetes
Serious medical conditions, such as heart disease, liver and kidney failure, blindness and nerve damage are linked to diabetes. According to the International Diabetes Federation, when "diabetes is diagnosed in the young, life expectancy is shortened by an average 10 to 20 years." Not only does your child face the risk of premature death, but diabetes-associated health consequences also occur at a younger age.
Many of the health complications of diabetes are associated with chronic high blood sugar levels, which damage blood vessels. Keeping tight control of your child's diabetes and teaching her how and why to do so is the best way to delay the onset of any complications.
