Diabetes? It only affects older people, or so I thought. It was only later that I knew that the disease can be for kids too. After coming across an article on Senator Edgardo Angara pursuing the inclusion of diabetes modules in the basic educational curriculum, I was made to ask, “Diabetes in children? Why?”
As to the cause of this disease in children, it is unclear. It is said to be either genetic, unhealthy lifestyle, or both. like in older people, there are different types of diabetes can affect children.
According to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s website, the most common is Type 1 or the juvenile or insulin-dependent diabetes. this is a condition wherein a child’s pancreas is not producing enough insulin and insulin shots are needed.
Other children who have this don’t have a family history of diabetes.
The other one is the Type 2 or the adult-onset or non-insulin-dependent diabetes. before, it was only common in older people, age 40 and above, who are overweight. But because inactivity and obesity are becoming the trend among kids, so is the disease. In this condition, the body cannot use properly the insulin produced. Treating this type of diabetes is less expensive, as it can be managed with regular exercise, healthy eating, and oral medications.
Majority of children who have this disease have family members who also have it.
InformationAboutDiabetes.com enumerates the following symptoms:
• Excessive thirst and hunger• Frequent urination• Tiredness and fatigue• Rapid and/or sudden weight loss• Blurred vision• Numbness and/tingling in the hands and feet• Slow healing of minor scratches and wounds• Recurrent or hard-to-treat yeast infections in women• Dry or itchy skin
A child should be checked by a doctor once a parent notices these symptoms. Diagnosis of diabetes can be troubling, however, it is definitely manageable and a child can still have a healthy and normal life.
Do you suffer or know someone who suffers from diabetes? Share with us how you cope by leaving comments below.