Juvenile diabetes is a widespread and serious disease, affecting more
than a million Americans; more than one in 10 are school-age children.
(Click here for more information on diabetes in children.)
But fortunately, diabetes is no longer as frightening as it once was.
With proper care, the disease can be kept under control and children
with diabetes can lead normal, active lives, according to Dr. Campbell
Howard, chief of the Section of Endocrinology/Diabetes at
Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics. (Learn more about the pediatric endocrinology program
at Children’s Mercy.)
When a child has juvenile diabetes, the pancreas is unable to produce
enough insulin to process carbohydrates. Instead of burning
carbohydrates (and sugar) for energy, the body burns fat. Left
untreated, the sugar levels in the body can become too high leading to
complications, including a possible diabetic coma.
Juvenile diabetes most often occurs in children between the ages of 8
and 12. (Adult-onset diabetes usually occurs in people over 40. Their
bodies produce enough insulin, but their bodies can’t use it
effectively so the blood sugar level rises.)
A child with diabetes will experience increased thirst, increased
urination and increased appetite, usually accompanied by weight loss.
As sugar builds up in the body, the child will develop a craving for
water so she can excrete the excess. As a result, the child will be
exceptionally thirsty and need a drink often. This leads to frequent
urination. And because the body can’t extract energy from the sugar,
the child will need to eat often. (Find a pediatric endocrinologist for your child.)
There is no way to cure diabetes and children will not outgrow it.
Children with juvenile diabetes need to take insulin injections at
least twice a day. This allows the body to burn carbohydrates for
energy, keeping blood sugar levels down. By about age 8, some
children learn to give themselves the injections. Before that time,
parents must give the injections to the children.
A child with diabetes also will have to be very careful with diet. The
child can eat the same food as the rest of the family, but must be
consistent with the amount of carbohydrates he/she eats and when.
The blood-sugar level of the child with diabetes needs to be taken at
least twice a day. This is done through a simple blood test. It’s
important because having too much insulin in the system can lead to
hypoglycemia, low blood sugar. Symptoms of hypoglycemia are
crankiness,
sweating, rapid pulse, cold skin and trembling hands and feet. It must
be treated quickly, and can be done by having the child quickly ingest
something with sugar, such as jam, honey, orange juice or non-diet
soda. Non-sugar foods should follow once the reaction has subsided.
Doctors have made great advances in dealing with diabetes and the long-
term consequences and severe complications such as blindness and
kidney
failure can be reduced and possibly prevented with proper care. It’s
important for a child with diabetes to have his eyes and kidneys
tested
routinely frequently for damage.
The disease and treatment of juvenile diabetes all sound very
complicated, especially for children, so it’s important for children
to
have understanding parents. Children who come from supportive families
do very well with the illness.
And parents should heed this advice: Don’t panic. Your child can lead
a
normal, active life if you keep calm and learn about the disease. If
your child is motivated and takes care of herself, with your help, she
can do anything she wants.
