Diabetes affects all age groups including children. In children it is called juvenile diabetes. Diabetes in children is increasing at an alarming rate. It is a disease where the pancreas is not able to produce insulin in sufficient quantity. Insulin is a hormone required for utilization of glucose as an energy source. The cells are unable to absorb glucose without the help of insulin.
Diabetes in children is not much associated with weight. In many children below fifteen years, diabetes appears suddenly. Early diagnosis and treatment of diabetes in children is very important.
Symptoms Of Diabetes In Children
- The child passes urine too frequently. He may complain of bed wetting and feel thirsty.
- Recurrent infections of respiratory tract.
- The growth of child becomes slow, early milestones may be delayed such as walking etc. His scholastic performance may get affected.
- Frequent tummy pain, vomiting and dehydration.
- The child looks thin and lean as there is marked loss of weight.
- Ketoacidosis develops as a result of accumulation of wastes in the body.
- The child becomes easily tired and as a result becomes lazy.
- Frequent episodes of vomiting and dehydration cause dryness of tongue and skin.
- The child has typical sweet smelling breath. The breath is like nail polish remover.
- If there is hypoglycemia, the child becomes drowsy, pulse becomes weak and his blood pressure is low. If hypoglycemia persists for long duration, he may become unconscious.
- The child may also complain of frequent headache.
What Causes Diabetes In Children?
- Family history and Heredity: Diabetes in children is also called type 1 diabetes or insulin dependent diabetes. Researchers are not able to ascertain the exact reason for diabetes in children, but they suspect genetic factor as one of the causes. Involvement of hereditary trait is one of the possibilities of diabetes in children. It is also believed to occur as a result of body’s own immune system reaction. The immune system attacks pancreatic cells from which insulin is produced. Exposure to viruses like Epstein-Barr virus, coxsackievirus may trigger an autoimmune response and start destroying cells of pancreas. Mumps virus may also trigger the onset of diabetes in children. Environmental factor is also suspected to be a cause for development of diabetes in children. Increased amount of nitrates present in water may be responsible for diabetes in children. Obesity out of proportion in children can be a reason for development of diabetes type 1.
- Food Allergy: Allergy to certain foods may cause diabetes in children. These children are genetically prone towards the disease. Drinking cow milk during infancy has been suspected as the reason for development of diabetes as the child grows. However, not all children are affected; only those who are genetically prone towards it are at risk of developing type 1 diabetes. It is the protein present in cow’s milk that triggers autoimmune response in the body. The cells of pancreas are attacked and their function of producing insulin is impaired.
How To Prevent Diabetes In Children?
Breast Feeding Protects Infants: Breast feeding is considered to be the best measure in preventing various diseases of infancy and childhood, one of this is diabetes in children. Infants who are breast fed instead of cow milk or other milk products are less likely to suffer from type 1 diabetes.