1. What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a condition which results due to low level of insulin in the body which causes the blood sugar levels to become very high and is called as Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus in children.
2. What are the symptoms that can happen in diabetes?
The earliest symptoms that can happen is increased in thirst and increased frequency of passing urine, sometimes causing bed wetting in children who previously were not doing so. This is usually followed by increased appetite with the child being very hungry even after meals, weakness and tiredness. The children also start losing weight despite eating well.
3. What causes Diabetes in children?
Diabetes in children is an autoimmune condition, which means that the body starts producing antibodies against the pancreas which produce insulin. The destruction of the pancreatic islet cells lead to overt symptoms of diabetes. This maybe triggered following a bout of any viral infection and sometimes it may not be possible to find the cause for the trigger.
4. What is the treatment of Diabetes?
Insulin is the only treatment available worldwide for the treatment of Type1 Diabetes in children currently. It is given as subcutaneous insulin timed with meals to prevent the high rise in blood sugars due to food intake. The aim is to provide insulin in the same way as it produced in our body when we eat food.
5. How different is Diabetes in children from adults?
The Diabetes in children is Type 1 due to a loss of islet cell causing every low insulin in the body, while in adults it is mostly Type 2 Diabetes which results due the resistance to the insulin in the body (there is no deficiency of insulin like in children).
Type 1 Diabetes has very low insulin so the treatment is with insulin. But Type 2 in adults is due
to a resistance to the insulin being produced by the pancreas, so can be managed by oral medicines.
6. Is giving insulin safe for children?
Yes, insulin is the only treatment for Type 1 diabetes in children and is very safe for children. Not giving insulin or not giving adequate doses can lead to very high blood sugars and can lead to complications in children. Insulin is given as subcutaneous injection with 6mm needles and are relatively less painful and can be easily given by the parents at home.
7. Is there a Diabetic diet for children with Type 1 diabetes?
Children with Type 1 Diabetes should NOT be put on any “Diabetic Diet”. Children are in the active phase of growth and need all their carbohydrates, protein and fats for normal growth and development. The dose of the insulin should be adjusted according to the eating habits of the child and not vide versa. These children should have a normal well balanced diet including all the essential components. Children should not be restricted in their diet due the fear of rise in blood sugars, instead the insulin dose should be adjusted to the child’s meal.
