Diabetes Symptoms in Children

Diabetes or diabetes mellitus is the condition, where the level of blood sugar or glucose rises abnormally, due to an inability of the body cells to effectively absorb and utilize glucose. The cells and tissues of the body need a hormone known as insulin, secreted by the beta cells of 'islets of Langerhans' of the pancreas, to absorb glucose from the bloodstream to use it for energy production. Diabetes can occur, if the cells of the pancreas fail to secrete enough insulin, or when the body cells fail to respond to the insulin secreted. Accordingly, diabetes is mainly of two types, type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is characterized by insufficient production of insulin, while type 2 diabetes occurs, when the cells and tissues of the body do not respond properly to insulin. Apart from these, some other major types of diabetes include, gestational diabetes (diabetes developed during pregnancy), congenital diabetes and cystic fibrosis diabetes. Out of these, the form that has been observed to be more prevalent among children is the type 1 diabetes.

Diabetes Mellitus in Children

Causes
The exact causes of this condition are not known properly, though its development is thought to be influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Type 1 diabetes, which is more prevalent in children is caused by shortage of insulin in the body. But, what exactly causes such a shortage is not known. Generally, it is presumed that type 1 diabetes can be an autoimmune disorder, where the immune system attacks the insulin producing cells of the pancreas. Some children can have a genetic predisposition to develop such a condition, especially when exposed to certain environmental factors like, virus and low level of vitamin D. Additionally, a family history, bad diet and a sedentary lifestyle can also put a child at an increased risk for developing this condition.

Symptoms
It causes an increase in the level of blood sugar, due to inability of the body cells to absorb glucose from the bloodstream. This can manifest in several symptoms in infants and children. Generally, most of its symptoms resemble those observed in their adult counterparts. However, a few additional symptoms like, behavioral changes and headaches have been found in children only. These symptoms are:

• Excessive thirst
• Frequent urination
• Excessive hunger
• Fatigue
• Unexplained weight loss
• Blurred vision
• Nausea and vomiting
• Tingling and numbness in hands and feet
• Irritability or behavioral problems
• Headache
• Abdominal pain
• Delayed healing of cuts and sores
• Chronic diaper rash
• Frequent Infections

Diagnosis and Treatment

Diabetes is usually diagnosed with the help of urine analysis, oral glucose tolerance test, fasting blood glucose level test and non-fasting blood glucose level test. Its treatment combines both insulin treatment and lifestyle modifications. In the initial stage, only a small dose of insulin is administered. But, then the dose is increased gradually, as the child grows. Generally, fast-acting insulin is given in the day time, while low-acting dose is administered during the night.

Treatment is always followed by regular monitoring of the blood glucose level. Apart from insulin, physicians may also prescribe certain other medications, after completely evaluating the condition. In addition to proper treatment, effective management of the condition requires certain dietary changes such as, including high amount of fiber, fruits and vegetables, and cutting down the amount of sugars and animal fats in the diet. Similarly, physical activities or exercises can also play an important role in the management of this condition. A physician can help the parents to find out what kind of exercises and diet would be ideal for their diabetic children.

Undiagnosed diabetes can lead to diabetic acidosis, due to an accumulation of ketones in the body. This can occur, when the body cells are unable to absorb and utilize glucose for energy production, and therefore, use fats for that purpose. Breaking down fat generates ketones as a byproduct, which if accumulated in a large amount can increase the acidity of the blood and the other tissues of the body. If left untreated, diabetic acidosis can lead to serious consequences. For the parents, knowledge about this condition is, therefore, of utmost importance to prevent such complications, and ensure early diagnosis of the condition.