Children with Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes in children: 90-95 per cent less than 16 years with diabetes have this type.
It is caused by the failure of the pancreas to produce insulin.
Type 1 diabetes is classified as an autoimmune disease, in which the immune system "attacks" one of their tissues or organs.
In type 1 diabetes, cells that produce insulin in the pancreas are destroyed.
How common?
Diabetes of the child is not common, but there are wide variations in the world:
* In England and Wales with 17 children to develop diabetes each year, 100,000
* In Scotland, the figure is 25 per 100,000
* In Finland, which is 43 per 100,000
* In Japan, it is 3 per 100,000.
The last 30 years has seen an increase in diabetes in childhood.
In Europe and America, type 2 diabetes was the first time in young people. This is probably caused in part by the growing trend of obesity in our society.
Obesity, but does not explain the increase in the number of type 1 diabetes in children - who represent the majority of new cases.
What are the causes of childhood diabetes?
As adults, the cause of childhood diabetes is not included. It is probably a combination of genes and environmental factors.
Most children who develop Type 1 do not have a family history of diabetes

What are the symptoms?
The main symptoms are the same as for adults. They tend to be more than a few weeks:
* Thirst
* Weight Loss
* Fatigue
* Frequent urination.

The symptoms that are more typical for children include:
* Tummy pains
* Headache
* Behavioral problems.

Sometimes occurs before acidosis diabetic is diagnosed diabetes, but this happens less often in the United Kingdom, thanks to better awareness of symptoms to watch.
Doctors should consider the possibility of diabetes in every child who otherwise has a history of illness or unexplained stomach pains for a few weeks.
If diabetes is diagnosed, the child must be submitted to specialists in the region in childhood diabetes.

As for the treatment of diabetes in children?
The specialized nature of the management of childhood diabetes means that most children are treated by the hospital, rather than with their doctor.
Most children with diabetes require insulin treatment. If so, the child will need a routine of insulin, which will be supplied with diabetes team.

* Most of the schemes often daily dose of fast-acting insulin during the day and the slow action of insulin during the night.
* The very young children are not normally need an injection in the night, but a necessity, because they grow.
* An increasing number of children continues to use insulin pumps.

Often, during the first year after diagnosis, the child in may only need a small dose of insulin. This is called the "honeymoon period". In addition to insulin treatment, good blood glucose and avoid "hypos" (low blood glucose attacks) is important. The reason is that many of the complications of diabetes increases with the duration of diabetes was present.

What can parents do?
Your family and the child, the medical team can help in difficult moments. Living with diabetes can put pressure on families, and access to support is crucial. May this with your doctor, hospital team or social services. To understand all aspects of diabetes and its treatment requires patience, but will benefit your child and family life.

The team from diabetes in the hospital can help in the list below.
* Learn to manage your insulin injections. Insulin is usually injected into the skin of the abdomen or thighs.
* Knowing the symptoms of hypoglycemia and diabetic acidosis, and what to do about it.
* Ensure that the glucose is always available.
* Measurement of glucose in the blood and to teach your children how to do it as soon as they are very old.
* Teach your child how to self-administer insulin injections when they are old - about the age of nine years, is typical.
* Consult your doctor on a regular basis, especially if the child is sick, for whatever reason - the treatment is likely to need to adapt.
* Inform the school and the friends on the symptoms of hypoglycemia and what to do about it.
* Contact your local association of diabetes care and support.

Diet
It is important to give your child a healthy, balanced, which is rich in fiber and carbohydrates. A healthy diet is the same for everyone, even if they do not have diabetes. As the child should eat depends on age and weight. The dietitian and parents must decide together. Desserts are no longer off limits because of "regime diabetic" is a relic of the past. Once your child is how his body responds to eat and take insulin, sweets sparingly as possible - with the appropriate dose of insulin.

Physical activity
Physical activity is important for children with diabetes, who must try to exercise every day. Physical activity reduces blood sugar, so if your child is taking insulin, which may be necessary to reduce the dose.
The reason is that the combination of excess insulin and exercise can help lower blood sugar and lead to hypos. To counter this, the child should always carry the sugar. Physical activity also affects what the child can eat. Before the child or a year of sport, more bread, fruit juices or other carbohydrates.

In the long term
A child who develops diabetes with the condition of life more than someone who develops diabetes in adulthood.
Diabetes is more common, the risk of long-term complications, such as those affecting the eyes and kidneys. You can start after puberty, but are usually a problem until later in life. Periodic reviews by the end of stage complications begin around the age of nine years. Therefore, it is carried out every year.