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Although the incidence of type 2 diabetes in children is growing,
when the term “childhood diabetes” is used it is usually in
reference to type 1 diabetes which also used to be called juvenile
diabetes. Childhood diabetes is a condition of the autoimmune system
in which the insulin creating cells of the pancreas are destroyed.
Most of the children who have diabetes have this form of the
disease.
Symptoms of type 1 diabetes are similar to those of type 2
diabetes, but the symptoms have a much faster rate of onset. Instead
of taking months or even years, these symptoms develop over a few
weeks. These symptoms include increased thirst, excessive urination,
weight loss, a constant feeling of tiredness, nausea, hunger and
blurred vision. If these symptoms are not addressed and treatment
begun, diabetic ketoacidosis will add more symptoms and will
eventually cause coma or death.
Childhood diabetes is treated with diet, exercise, daily blood
sugar monitoring and injections of insulin. The dietary requirements
are the same ones required for type 2 diabetes; it is not so much a
diet as it is a healthy eating plan. Lots of fresh fruit and
vegetables, natural grains and cereals and less meat and processed
foods. There is still room for occasional sweet snack or potato
chip, just not every day.
Exercise is very important in the treatment plan.
The most important change and the hardest routine to settle into
is the daily testing and insulin injections. There have been
innovations in the system that make it much easier for a child to
handle, though. A device called an insulin pump has a tube implanted
under the skin and it automatically injects the insulin. It is the
size of a pager and the child wears it just as he would a pager. For
those who do not get the pump, self-monitoring of blood glucose
levels and insulin injections is necessary. Insulin pens have made
these injections easier, too. eliminating the need for syringes and
measurements.
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