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 Michael Smith, MD, FAAP |
Diabetes Mellitus in ChildrenMichael Smith, MD Diabetes mellitus is one of the more common chronic illnesses occurring in children and adolescents. It has been estimated that over 200,000 children below the age of 20 presently have diabetes mellitus. Unfortunately, diabetes is increasing in this age group.
Diabetes can be broken down into two major types. The majority of children have diabetes mellitus type 1, also known as juvenile onset diabetes. The second type of diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and formerly known as adult onset diabetes, has been increasing in frequency in children. In diabetes mellitus type 1, the insulin secreting cells of the pancreas are damaged, leading to a deficiency of the hormone insulin. With type 2 diabetes, the body continues to make an adequate amount of insulin. However, the cells within the body have developed a resistance to the insulin hormone and are no longer able to utilize the insulin properly. Both of these conditions lead to increased blood sugar. The increasing trend of overweight or obese children is clearly paralleling the increasing rise of type 2 diabetes. Additionally, individuals with type 2 diabetes often have a strong history of adult family members with type 2 diabetes. There is also an ethnic predisposition to this condition, with an increased incidence of type 2 diabetes found in Native Americans and other nonwhite groups. Diabetes is frequently diagnosed once parents become aware of the warning signs for the disease. Unfortunately, type 2 diabetes is more gradual in onset and thus, not as easily identified. Once the warning signs are present -- increased thirst, increased urination, increased hunger or fatigue; further evaluation by a doctor should be undertaken to exclude or confirm the diagnosis. New medications are available for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. All individuals with type 1 diabetes will be treated with insulin. Those individuals with type 2 diabetes may, initially, be treated through weight loss and oral medications prior to the need to resort to insulin treatment. The present technological revolution has provided us with better delivery devices for children, which can assist with the care of their diabetes. New devices being utilized include insulin pumps, which continuously deliver an appropriate amount of insulin to the patient and monitor blood sugar. It gives a minute-to-minute update of the state of one’s blood sugar. An awareness of the disease and its symptoms can assist in an individual’s early diagnosis and management of diabetes. It is critical to your child’s overall health to seek a physician or clinic that routinely deals with diabetic children. If you find any of the symptoms to be present in your child, the first step would be to discuss this with your child’s physician. femur.
QUICK DIABETIC FACTS• 13,000 young children are diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes per year • over 200,000 children below age 20 have diabetes. • Increasing childhood obesity has led to increased incidence of diabetes in children or adolescents.
COMMON SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED
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