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.
Conclusion
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.
