DIABETES IN CHILDREN: DEALING WITH LOW BLOOD SUGAR

• It occurs when your blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified as diabetes.
• Type 1 diabetes. When the pancreas don’t produce insulin.
• Type 2 diabetes. The pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or your body can’t use it effectively.
• Gestational diabetes.Pregnant woman cant make and use insulin  during pregnancy.

Some symptoms are common to both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

Type 1

The most common symptoms of type 1 diabetes among children and adolescents include:

• Increased thirst and urination
• Hunger
• weight loss
• Fatigue
• Irritability
• Fruity smell on the breath

Excessive hunger and blurred vision may also be experienced. Yeast infection will also build up for girls. Before the diagnosis, weight loss is a common symptom.

Type 2

Type 2 diabetes symptoms may include:

• Urinating frequently, especially during the evening
• Increased thirst
• Always feeling tired
• Unexplained weight loss
• Private parts itching or  conceivably with a yeast infection
• Slow healing of cuts or wounds
• Blurred vision, as the eye’s lens becomes dry

There might other signs of insulin resistance, such as dark, velvety patches of skin, called acanthosis nigricans, and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

In a few weeks time, symptoms of type 1 diabetes can develop quickly in children. However, the symptoms of Type 2 diabetes are more slower and may reach months or years before it gets diagnosed.

If you see some symptoms mentioned above, seek medical advice from your doctor.

DIAGNOSIS

Blood tests will be done to analyze and find out whether  glucose levels are high.

Urine testing is also done to detect glucose levels in urine.

Early screening is important to have quick treatment and prevent complications.

For those who have a diabetic family member, screening should be started early.

Diabetes testing should be done in children aged over 10 years who are overweight (more than 85 percentile for BMI or more than 120 percent ideal weight for tallness) and if they have any of the two risk factors:

• Type 2 diabetes history in a first- or second-degree relative
• High-risk ethnicity (Native American, African American, Latino, Asian American, or Pacific Islander)
• If showing a high insulin resistance
• Maternal history of diabetes or gestational diabetes during the child’s gestation

You can able to lessen the risk of having diabetes by seeking an early screening test.

TREATMENT

Doctors may recommend  blood sugar monitoring, oral medications or insulin shots depending on what kind of diabetes you may have. You can also combine these regimens with eating a balanced diet less in sugar and with exercise.

Treatments for all types of diabetes

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle by eating a healthy meal and by proper exercise can help manage diabetes.

• Healthy eating. More fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains should be consumed to help lessen diabetes risk. Sweet treats are okay once in a while, as long as they’re counted as part of your meal plan.

You can ask help from a registered dietitian to know  what and how much to eat  to achieve your health goals, food preferences and lifestyle. For those who have type 1 diabetes, this will include  carbohydrate counting.

• Physical activity, such as aerobic exercise is a must-have for everyone and especially to those who have diabetes. Exercise helps  move sugar to cells where it’s used for energy. Sensitivity to insulin may also increase  through physical activity, which means that your body needs less insulin to transport sugar to your cells.

Get your doctor’s approval to undergo physical activity, and make this part of your daily routine.

Do 30 minutes or more of aerobic exercise everyday.

Treatments for type 1 and type 2 diabetes

Insulin shots or the use of insulin pump, regular blood sugar tests and carbohydrate counting are the treatments for those who have type 1 diabetes. And for those who have type 2 diabetes, treatments involve monitoring blood sugar, diabetes medications, insulin and lifestyle changes,

For those who take insulin you must check and record your blood sugar levels four times a day or more.

For individuals with type 2 diabetes who aren’t taking insulin, blood sugar checks are much less frequent.

Individuals who get insulin treatment also may choose to monitor their blood sugar levels with a continuous glucose monitor. Although this technology hasn’t yet completely replaced the glucose meter, it can essentially diminish the quantity of finger sticks necessary to check blood sugar and provide important information about trends in blood sugar levels.