Diabetes in Children: Types, Symptoms, Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is a disease that affects the Pancreas. Insulin is produced by the pancreas that helps the body to use the sugar from our daily diet.

Insufficient insulin can raise the glucose levels in the blood and cause problems for many organs of the body. Blood sugar beyond control can affect the eyes, circulation and other organs.

What to Do

Diabetes can be diagnosed by doing the stick test. It helps confirm the presence of sugar.

Children who are newly diagnosed with diabetes will often be admitted to the hospital to be started on insulin.
Insulin cannot be taken orally. Diabetic children who are insulin-dependent should be injected with insulin on a regular basis.
Diabetic children should attend all check-ups.
Blood sugar of these children should be strictly controlled.
Simple blood sugar measuring device are available which even young children can use at home.

Diabetic Conditions

Hypoglycemia

When the blood sugar is low the condition is called hypoglycemia. This usually happens when a diabetic has taken his regular normal dose of insulin, but has not eaten anything for any reason.

Symptoms of Hypoglycemia

The child may appear confused, sleepy and sweats a lot.

What to Do

It is very important to give the child any form of sugar.
Special tablets are available that can be conveniently carried along.
Chewing a sugar candy is very helpful.
Sweet manufactured for diabetics will not raise the sugar and is thereby not beneficial.
Call the doctor if an untreated diabetic becomes unconscious.

Ketoacidosis

When the blood sugar is too high it is called Keto-acidosis.

Symptoms of Keto-acidosis

Breath smells of vinegar or acetone, abdominal pain and drowsiness. In milder cases the child becomes excessively thirsty and goes to toilet frequently to pass large amounts of urine.