When people talk about diabetes, they often mean diabetes mellitus, which is a group of related disorders that are characterised by hyperglycaemia or excess sugar in the blood. But that is not the only type of diabetes we have. There is also diabetes insipidus, where the body produces excess urine, causing you to lose too much water. We’ll focus on diabetes mellitus in this article.
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterised by high blood glucose levels or hyperglycaemia. It occurs either because the body cannot produce insulin (type 1 diabetes) or because the body cannot use insulin effectively (type 2 diabetes).
Diabetes is often seen as a disease of adults and the elderly. However, it is getting more common in children. The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) estimates that there were more than one million children and adolescents under 20 with diabetes in 2019.
Type 1 vs Type 2 diabetes
We mentioned earlier that type 1 diabetes mellitus is the most common type of diabetes in children, but children also have type 2 diabetes. The difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes is primarily in their origin.
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin in the pancreas. The reason for these attacks on the cells is not clear, but experts suggest that genetic factors and viral infections may cause it.
In type 2 diabetes, the body either does not produce enough insulin or the organs are not sensitive enough to the present and circulating insulin, leading to excess sugar in the blood.
3 out of 100,000 children in Nigeria have type 1 diabetes
The International Diabetes Federation also estimates that about 3 (2.9) out of 100,000 children between the ages of 0 to 14 in Nigeria have type 1 diabetes mellitus.
Children with diabetes have common risk factors, and these include:
- Family history of diabetes
- Certain genetic mutations
- Environmental factors like exposure to viruses
- Obesity
- Diet
- Level of physical activity
- Steroid therapy
How do you know that your child has diabetes?
Diabetes in children has similar symptoms as diabetes in adults, but since children, especially infants and preschool children, can’t explain their symptoms, parents have to pay extra attention.
Symptoms to watch out for include:
- Excessive thirst
- Frequent urination
- Poor cry and weakness
- Increased appetite
- Excess weight gain
- Poor wound healing
- Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
The symptoms are similar for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, but type 2 symptoms develop later and slower. See a paediatrician immediately if you suspect your child has any of these symptoms.
Diagnosis of diabetes requires expert evaluation
Although laboratory tests may show that a child has high glucose levels in their blood, that alone is not sufficient to say that the child is diabetic. Your doctor will take the child’s medical history, evaluate their signs and symptoms, and then order some laboratory tests to confirm the diagnosis.
These tests include:
- Random or fasting blood glucose estimation
- Random or fasting serum glucose estimation
- Oral glucose tolerance test
- HbA1C test
Management of diabetes depends on the type
Type 1 diabetes
- Lifetime insulin therapy
- Regular blood glucose monitoring
- Balanced diet
- Regular exercise
- Mental health support
- Mother and child education
Type 2 diabetes
- Low carbohydrate and fat diet
- Balanced diet
- Regular exercise
- Oral antidiabetic medication
- Insulin therapy
Diabetes complications can be life-threatening
Children with diabetes often present late to hospitals, especially after they have developed complications. Some of these complications include:
- Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
- Hypoglycaemia
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Diabetic nephropathy
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Infections
These complications may manifest as:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Fruity breath
- Sudden chest pain
- Blurred vision
- Loss of consciousness
Early diagnosis and management, coupled with good blood glucose control, can prevent or delay the onset of these complications.
You can delay or prevent the onset of diabetes
The auto-immune nature of type 1 diabetes makes it challenging to prevent, but you can prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes with some pretty basic steps.
- Encourage your child to eat healthy diet
- Regular physical activity
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Limiting screen time
- Regular check-ups
What can the government do?
The government is vital in implementing policies and programs that promote diabetes education, prevention, and management.
Firstly, the government can allocate funds to support research and development of new treatment methods and technologies for diabetes management in children. This research can help improve the understanding of diabetes, leading to better prevention, diagnosis, and treatment for young patients.
Secondly, the government can implement policies that promote healthy lifestyle choices for children. This can include providing nutritious meals in schools, promoting physical activity, and restricting the availability of unhealthy food choices. Such policies can help reduce the risk of diabetes in children and promote healthy living habits.
The government can also provide education and awareness programs for parents and caregivers of young children with diabetes. These programs can offer guidance on managing diabetes at home, including monitoring blood glucose levels, administering insulin, and controlling hypoglycaemia.
Summary
Diabetes affects children, too, and the number of children it affects is on the rise. The risk factors for diabetes in children include junk diet, obesity, prolonged screen time, little or no physical activity, parents with diabetes, and more. The onset of diabetes can be avoided with dietary and lifestyle adjustments; children with confirmed diabetes must visit a doctor for expert management.
Diabetes is a chronic disorder that can be difficult to manage, especially the type 1 variety. Children with the disease may need lifetime management. This can be expensive and discomforting for the child. Parents must watch out for the risk factors and avoid them as much as possible. Please see a doctor if you have any concerns.
