Chilidren with Diabetes

Although most people think of diabetes as a condition associated with those over 40 years old, a growing number of children are being diagnosed with diabetes. Although Type 1 or insulin dependent diabetes has always affected children, often being referred to as juvenile diabetes, instances of Type II diabetes in children are on the rise. This rise in Type II diabetes in children has been linked directly to obesity. Children as young as 10 years old are developing diabetes based on their diet. This type of diabetes is characterized by a lessened ability for your body's insulin to function. It is controlled by diet, medications, and sometimes insulin.

How can diabetes affect my child? Well first of all, our child's obesity may cause them some undue mental issues. Problems with teasing, body image, and self worth are often associated with obesity. They may also be affected by the stress of taking regular medication and other health concerns associated with diabetes. Also, diabetics have to be cautious of both hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. Hypoglycemia, or low blood glucose can be caused by taking too much insulin, skipping meals or snacks, or increased physical activity. It can cause fainting, dizziness, or light-headedness in your child and is usually treated quickly and easily by eating carbohydrates. Hyperglycemia, or high blood glucose levels, can lead to
diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a very serious illness, if untreated. Short term affects include impaired cognitive abilities which has an adverse affect on your child's ability to learn and academic performance. Other medical complications can develop in the long term.

The best way to prevent these problems in your children is by encouraging regular diet and exercise. This may mean limiting time spent indoors and on activities such as video games, television, computers use, etc. You may also need to plan activities to keep your child engaged in exercising, especially if they do not seem motivated to be outdoors on their own. Also, you need to be responsible for your child's diet. This may involve cooking more meals at home, learning how to eat healthy meals in restaurants, packing lunches, and even changing some of your habits to set a better example for your children. Serving sizes is one of the biggest challenges for children, as they often eat faster than they are supposed to, and do not pay attention to the amount of certain items they are consuming. Keep in mind that the small sacrifice of effort for better nutrition is the best way to prevent serious future health complications in your children.