Diabetes mellitus, also referred to as sugar diabetes, is a disease of the pancreas.
The body converts sugars and starches from food into a form of sugar called glucose.
Glucose then enters the bloodstream.
The pancreas secretes insulin, which is a hormone that assists the cells in using the glucose as a fuel for energy.
People who have diabetes have a pancreas that is unable to produce sufficient insulin to do this.
As a result, their blood sugar level rises.
There are two types of diabetes.
The most common one is Type II or adult diabetes.
The other is Type I or juvenile diabetes.
Although children can develop diabetes at any age it most commonly occurs between the ages of five and seven or from eleven to thirteen years.
The symptoms are: excessive thirst, excessive urination, increased appetite, weight loss, dry skin, weakness, fatigue, tingling in hands and feet, and blurred vision.
It is crucial to seek immediate treatment anytime diabetes is suspected.
The symptoms progress very rapidly.
In as little as two to four weeks, a child can become dehydrated, weak, less responsive, with deep and rapid respirations.
At this point, without treatment, a child can lapse into a coma and die.
Parents should pay particular attention to their child's weight.
If the child loses weight in spite of eating well there could be a problem.
Diabetic children are rarely obese and when diabetes occurs, they start to lose weight.
However, parents should not confuse failure to gain weight with loss of weight.
Many children develop slowly and gain as little as two pounds a year however they maintain their body weight.
This is not a situation for suspecting diabetes.
The diabetic child will always lose weight while continuing to eat well.
But weight loss is only one symptom.
A doctor will need to order blood and urine tests to confirm the diagnosis.
While adults can often control Type II Diabetes with diet and exercise alone, juvenile diabetics will always require insulin in addition to proper diet and exercise.
However, diet is still important for the juvenile diabetic.
The child diabetic should never be allowed to become obese.
When diabetics are overweight their blood sugar levels keep fluctuating.
When the child overeats, blood sugar levels rise and more insulin is required.
A diabetic child needs a steady caloric intake of foods they enjoy and will eat willingly.
Exercise is equally important.
When diabetics exercise, their blood sugar levels drop and lower doses of insulin are required.
Active children usually get enough exercise during their normal play activities but sedentary children may need considerable encouragement.
Teenage diabetics may be difficult to motivate and may need regularly scheduled special activities such as dancing, swimming, or martial arts classes.
Diabetic children should be counseled about the complications that can occur when diet, exercise, and insulin are not in balance.
They need to be aware that if their blood sugar rises due to too much food, not enough insulin and insufficient exercise, diabetic acidosis can result.
When this happens the child becomes disoriented, confused and starts to lose consciousness.
On the other hand, not enough food combined with excess insulin and exercise can cause hypoglycemia.
Symptoms of hypoglycemia are headaches, hunger, sweating, paleness, trembling, rapid pulse, and blurred vision.
The child needs to know the early symptoms of these two conditions and know what to do to alleviate them.
For if not treated, the child can lose consciousness and lapse into a coma.