Identify Diabetes In Toddlers: Diabetes conditions do not see age before coming, they can even come at a very small age. In many cases, parents do not notice if their little ones have diabetes or not because its symptoms are very similar to those of other illnesses that kid usually face.
Children’s cannot speak properly about their problems, and in this situation, the responsibility of taking care of them increases.
Finding diabetes in toddlers at an early stage is important, so the condition does not get worse for them.
In this article, we will learn about the symptoms of diabetes in toddlers and how you can choose the perfect treatment for them.
Causes of diabetes in childhood :
Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are the most common types, and according to experts’ theories, some reasons can make a toddler a diabetic patient:-
Type 1: This type of diabetes occurs in people whose immune systems start destroying insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. The reason for this problem is not properly found, but environmental, exposure to different viruses can be a reason for this problem.
Type 2: This form of diet is mainly being found in adults, but in some rare cases, it can also affect children. This can occur because of any diabetic family history, extra fat, or because of genetics.
Also check: What is Type 2 Diabetes, Symptoms & Risk Factors
Symptoms of Type1 diabetes in children:
These are some common symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes:-
Incising thirst:
You can think that your toddler is asking for more and more water because of weather changes or because it is normal, but sometimes it is not. Glucose starts pulling fluid from the tissues, which makes the person thirsty for fluid.
Increased urination:
If you are changing more diapers or your toilet-trained toddler is having bedwetting accidents, it is another sign of diabetes. See if your toddler does this sometimes, or if it is happening daily.
Loss of weight:
Notice if your toddler’s weight is decreasing suddenly, even if they are eating their meals properly. Loss of appetite symptoms is very common in young people. This symptom is hard to find in a toddler who is already underweight for his or her age.
Diaper rashes:
Rashes can appear for many reasons, like food allergies, infections, or many others. If any treatment is not working on the diaper rashes, the reason could be diabetes. Consult your doctor for instant treatment.
Tiredness:
In diabetes, the cells of the body do not get the required energy, which makes the person feel low. Toddlers are very active, but if they start, acting tired all the time, or loses interest in things, so this is another symptom of diabetes.
Vomiting:
Now, vomiting can happen for many reasons, but persistent vomiting even after treatment is a sign of diabetes. It can make the baby feel weak, lose interest, or even be hungry most of the time.
The problem in vision:
High blood sugar starts pulling fluid from your eye lens, which makes the view blurry for toddlers and even for adults. If a child is complaining about their not clear view, visit a healthcare provider and go for different tests to make sure, if it is diabetes or not.
Causes:
The precise cause of type 1 diabetes remains elusive. However, in many cases, the body’s immune system, responsible for protecting against infections, mistakenly attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, known as islet cells. This complex process is thought to involve a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
Risk factors:
Type 1 diabetes most often occurs in children but can occur at any age. Risk factors for type 1 diabetes in children include:
Family history: Anyone with a parent or siblings with type 1 diabetes has a slightly increased risk of developing the condition.
Genetics: Certain genes indicate an increased risk of type 1 diabetes.
Race: In the United States, type 1 diabetes is more common among white children of non-Hispanic descent than among children of other races.
Certain viruses: Exposure to various viruses may trigger the autoimmune destruction of the islet cells.
Common tests for diabetes include:
Here are some common tests that your healthcare provider can suggest to check if a toddler has diabetes or not:-
Blood sugar: A blood sugar test is one of the most necessary tests to check the glucose levels in toddlers’ blood and can be done at any random time.
A1C: The test helps determine how much amount of glucose is attached to hemoglobin. It is necessary to check how much diabetes spreads and starts affecting the body.
Fasting blood sugar: Normal blood sugar tests can be done at any time, but for fasting blood sugar tests, you have to fast overnight.
Oral glucose: If the doctor has already found type 2 diabetes in the toddler’s body, they can suggest oral glucose tolerance tests. The first test is taken after fasting for eight hours. The doctor will check the toddler’s sugar levels many times after a few hours.
How to treat diabetes in children:
The treatment of diabetes depends on what type of diabetes your older have. Your child needs a good doctor team, dietician, and educator. The treatment of diabetes in toddlers is the same as in adults, but doctors suggest some less painful treatments for little ones.
Take advice from your best doctors, and do things according to their suggestions. Monitoring sugar levels, insulin intake, a healthy diet, regular exercise, and counting carbohydrates or medications are some common steps of the treatment process.
What to do if you think your child has diabetes
If your child has any of the above signs or symptoms of diabetes, you should take them straight to the doctor and insist on a blood glucose test. If a quick and simple finger prick test indicates high blood sugar, your GP will refer your child to a specialist diabetes team or hospital and the test will be sent to the lab to diagnose diabetes.
If symptoms of Type1 diabetes in children are missed
Too many children and young people are not diagnosed with type 1 diabetes until they are in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) a life-threatening condition that requires urgent medical attention.
If a child has type1 diabetes and it isn’t diagnosed for a long time or they also become unwell with an infection, they may be at risk of something called hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state (HHS) or DKA. And high blood sugar can start to damage parts of their body. If your child is diagnosed with diabetes, we’re here to support you. We have lots of information and if you have any questions, you can speak to one of our trained advisors on our helpline.
Type 1 diabetes in child results from the immune system attacking insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Its exact cause is unknown, involving genetics and environmental factors. Type 1 diabetes in child occurs when the body’s defense system attacks insulin-making cells. Kids need lifelong care, insulin, and a balanced diet to manage blood sugar. Quick diagnosis and treatment are vital to avoid complications. Parents, teachers, and doctors must work together to support kids with type 1 diabetes. With proper care and advances in research, children with type 1 diabetes can lead happy and fulfilling lives, reaching their dreams despite the challenges.
Prevention
There’s currently no sure way to prevent type 1 diabetes, but this is a very active area of research.
The antibodies associated with type 1 diabetes in children who have a high risk of the disorder can be detected months or even years before the first symptoms of type 1 diabetes appear. Researchers are working on:
Preventing or delaying the start of type 1 diabetes in people who have a high risk of the disease.
Preventing further destruction of the islet cells in child who are newly diagnosed.
Final thought:
Toddlers do not know how to take care of themselves, and in this situation, the responsibilities of parents or guardians increase. Notice each activity of your toddler and visit a doctor immediately if you find any problems. In this article, we only discuss a few symptoms, but you can see many others, like delayed wound recovery and many more. Educate yourself about toddler diabetes and talk with other parents about it.
Recent Comments