Diabetes is a metabolic disease due to defective insulin secretion, insulin action or both. This results in hyperglycemia, which if left undiagnosed and not corrected quickly, can lead to a serious dysfunction of the eyes, kidney, liver, nerves, vessels, and heart.
There are two types of diabetes:
- Type I diabetes, juvenile-onset diabetes or Childhood diabetes, which affects the individuals in the ages of 0-14 years.
In this form of diabetes, the body secretes antibodies against the Beta cells of the pancreas.
- The second form of diabetes, Type II diabetes, adulthood diabetes, is seen during the adult stage of life. It commonly occurs due to obesity or lifestyle discrepancies, although it can also progress from the Type I into Type II.
The major difference between Type I and Type II is that in Type I, the body cannot produce insulin due to the destruction of the islet cells of the pancreas. While in Type II, the problems are either with insulin production or its efficacy in metabolizing glucose.
Childhood diabetes accounts for 5-10% of diabetes, and is a serious health complication. What’s even more alarming is that the rates of its incidence are increasing daily. UK has been identified to have the fifth highest rates of incidence of Childhood diabetes. The International Diabetes Federation found that approximately 25 children out of 100,000 were found to be diagnosed with Type I diabetes, every year in the UK.
This health condition has become a matter of extreme concern. Here are the symptoms of this metabolic disease and the further possible complications.
The symptoms can be categorized into 4T’s-
- Thirst
- Toilet
- Tiredness
- Thinner
It is not the age that matters, it is the delay in diagnosis of the condition that creates the difficulty. Studies suggest that roughly 15% of parents are able to identify this condition at an early stage, where the progress can be controlled. The remaining 85% of the cases progress into a more complicated form.
Also, in cases where Type I diabetes transforms into Type II diabetes, there is an increased risk of developing diabetic ketoacidosis. In this condition, due to lack of insulin, the body is unable to use glucose for meeting its energy needs. These glucose needs are then met by the breakdown of body tissues, which leads to production of poisonous chemicals in the body, called as ketones. The accumulation of such ketonic by-products in the body leads to a condition called acidosis. This is one of the major causes of morbidity, at present.
What becomes important at this stage for parents is to observe their children and note if they are showing any of the 4T’s symptoms. If they get diagnosed with this, then it is necessary to-
- Consult with a doctor and get a blood glucose check up done, regularly.
- Get a proper diet chart and follow it.
- Make a strict exercise schedule.
- If needed, go for insulin injections to control the glucose levels in the body.
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