diabetes in children

November 6, 2008

Prevalence of Diabetes in Children
By Dallas Crosno

One of the most common diseases found in children and teens is diabetes. 90 to 95% of children with diabetes have type 1 diabetes.the other 5 to 10% have type 2. Most of the time when a child is diagnosed with diabetes it is assumed to be type 1 but in the last 20 years type 2 diabetes has been on the rise with children and teens. More than a thousand children a year are diagnosed with diabetes and health care providers keep finding that more and more of these children have type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder unlike type 1 which is an autoimmune disease. Instead of the body attacking itself and destroying the beta cells it develops a resistance to insulin and starts using it improperly. As a result glucose builds up in the blood causing eventual damage to the kidneys and other organs leading to more complications. Without the glucose being absorbed the body cannot produce energy leaving you feeling tired and exhausted all the time. Health care providers are finding more and more children with type 2 diabetes, a disease usually diagnosed in adults aged 40 years or older.

Research from the American Diabetes Association shows that the increasing rate of obesity and low physical activity may be the cause of this increase of the prevalence of type 2 diabetes among children and teens. Most of the children and teens diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are between 9 and 19 years old, have a family history if diabetes, obese, have insulin resistance, and poor glycemic control. Type 1 diabetes prevalence of U.S. residents aged 0-19 years is 1.7 per 1000.

Because Diabetes in children can go undiagnosed for quite a while it is hard to detect its prevalence. Children can have few or no symptoms and blood tests are needed for an accurate diagnosis.It is difficult to diagnose type 2 or type 1 diabetes in children. The criteria to find the difference between the two is very complicated because children with type 2 can develop ketoacidosis as well as type 1 and type 1 diabetic children can be overweight too and the prevalence of this disease overall is still low.

Signs and symptoms of the onset of Diabetes are extreme thirst, weight loss, increased urination, tiredness, fatigue, increased appetite, headaches, and stomach pains. Look for these warning signs so that the disease can be diagnosed ahead of time and treated more effectively. To help prevent complications from this disease ask your doctor about diabetic vitamins and supplements. Also some lifestyle changes are needed such as a balanced diet and daily physical activity.

For more information about different types of diabetes, complications, signs and symptoms, treatment, diabetic aids and supplies visit Best Diet for Diabetes

If you are looking for a guide to a well balanced diet and meal plan check out The Fat Loss Guru

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Childhood diabetes

September 12, 2008

Type 1 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes found in teenagers and children.Also known as insulin dependent diabetes, type 1 diabetes is found in 90 to 95% of all children and teens with diabetes.Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease characterized by the body’s immune system attacking its own insulin producing pancreas beta cells. Type 1 and 2 diabetes prevalence in children and teens has gone up drastically in the last 30 years. ADA research says the reason for this is the increase in obesity rate of children due to unhealthy diet and lifestyle choices.

However since Type 1 diabetes itself isn’t caused by obesity the ADA researchers say it is caused by a series of environmental and genetic triggers.Sometimes without even a family history of diabetes. Symptoms in children and adults are much the same. They include extreme thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, lethargy, and weight loss. The symptoms more typical for a child to have include stomach aches, headaches, and behavioral changes and problems.
Insulin treatment is needed in most cases with childhood diabetes. Lower doses at first but as the child gets older more is needed eventually leading to continuous insulin pumps.
Blood glucose levels should be monitored closely in order to prevent hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia. Both the parent and the child should learn how to administer insulin injections so in case one of them is unable to administer the injection the other will be able to do it for them.
Both the parent and the child should also know how to monitor blood sugar, and friends,family, and teachers should know about the conditon.
As far as diet is concerned the child should eat every 3 hours;3 large meals per day and the time in between small snacks.Good carbohydrates are vitally important.
Carbs like fruits and vegetables, whole grains, whole grain breakfast cereal, popcorn, oat nut bread, potato bread, legumes, and potatoes are good carbs. Try to focuse on maintaining a low protein, low fat, high fiber diet. Children can have sweets/desserts twice week. So sugar is still okay but in moderation. Try asking your doctor about a natural healthy sugar substitute called stevia. I’ve tried it myself, and it tastes just like regular sugar just without the bad after effects.
Exercise is another requirement for children and adults with diabetes. keep up regular physical activity at least once a day for 45 minutes to an hour.Parents can get their kids to exercise more often by doing fun family activities like playing a game, hiking, swimming, jogging, walking or anything else.

In order to keep your child healthy in the long run and prevent complications from occurring proper diet, nutrition, and exercise are a requisite. If the disease is not properly treated and managed complications can and will occur and are more likely to occur the longer someone has diabetes. Diabetic supplements might help as well in the prevention and treatment of the disease and its complications. They can do many different things ranging from increased insulin production to increased circulation in the limbs. They are slow but over time very effective. The Complications that can occur include, blindness, blurred vision, amputation due to lost circulation, hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, nerve damage, heart disease, kidney damage and failure, and skin problems.