Recognizing the Signs and Finding Treatment for Childhood Diabetes
To help alleviate some of the confusion as to what causes Childhood Diabetes and the ways in which to best treat the condition, the following is a general guide outlining the signs to look for and steps to help one’s child live as normal a life as possible.
DEFINING DIABETES
The optimal starting point is to first gain an understanding as what the condition of childhood diabetes means. In the most general sense, diabetes in any form is the result of an irregularity with one’s insulin production. Because the body relies upon insulin to process sugars, fats and amino cells’ absorption into cells; a diabetic can lose out fundamental nutrients which are not being properly channeled.
Where children are concerned, diabetes typically is the end-result of insulin-producing beta cells located in the pancreas that have been destroyed. Because medical innovations have not yet found a way to regenerate beta cells, this form of diabetes, referred to as Type I or insulin-dependent, has been categorized as incurable. Thus, children with diabetes will evolve into adults with diabetes.
DETECTING DIABETES
To ascertain whether or not your child may be suffering from this malady, some signs to keep an eye out for include: excessive urination, extreme thirst exhibited as drinking tons of water; abnormal levels of hunger; weight loss and | or fatigue; and skin infections, particularly genital scratching due to fungal secretions.
A young person may be more susceptible to becoming diabetic should he | she: have a close relative who is diabetic; be obese; and | or have high blood pressure or signs of heart disease.
If your child shows even the slightest signs of having childhood diabetes, you are best taking him | her to a trusted physician capable of running the proper tests designed to detect diabetes.
Though parents may not want their child to have to go through the discomfort of living a life altered by diabetes; it is imperative that they learn the truth. Without proper treatment and monitoring, their child is at substantial risk of incurring serious health problems, not to mention puzzlement over the mysterious cause of their odd bodily responses and behaviors.
TREATING DIABETES with DIET & EXERCISE
While a child may never outgrow diabetes, it is encouraged that parents engage their child in healthy activities designed to make their condition more manageable. Suggested lifestyle changes include taking the child to both: a dietician trained in working with diabetics and a physician capable of prescribing an appropriate physical fitness regime based upon the individual’s health, interests and age.
The dietician’s job is to balance out the individual’s medications with their daily food intake and levels of physical exercise. Striving to achieve stable blood-sugar levels, the dietician’s focus is not only on the patient’s present needs but also on the avoidance of any related long-term complications.
As one would expect, food plans dieticians recommend vary from one to another. Yet, as a whole, three basic plans exist:
1) The most frequently prescribed plan derives between 45 to 55 percent of its caloric intake from carbohydrates.
2) A moderately low-carbohydrate diet with abstinence from simple refined sugars and alcohol. This type of regime is suitable for persons with high triglyceride blood levels.
3) A new approach involves a high-carbohydrate, low-fat diet for those with high blood levels of cholesterol and other fats (generally classified as having Type II diabetes.) In other words, a diet high in foods that are filling but not fattening. Such a grouping includes: foods high in fiber and low-energy fruits and vegetables, i.e., bean sprouts, greens and blackberries.
When adding exercise into a diabetic’s regular roster of activities, it is critical to assess the amount of food he | she is consuming and balance it against the amount of physical exertion being expended. Because a child diabetic’s biggest battle lies in the area of stabilizing one’s blood sugar levels, to compensate for energy lost during exercise, he | she needs to add extra food into his | her diet. Ideal energy-supplement foods include: high carbohydrate items such as bread, fruits and vegetables.
MAINTAINING DIABETES
In addition, watching ones food intake and activity exertion, routine testing of blood sugar levels also becomes an integral part of the child diabetic’s life. The monitoring of such levels before and after exercise and eating helps to ensure the individual is not indicating signs of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels ) or hyperglycemia (high blood sugar levels.) Such sugar-glucose imbalances can present themselves in the form of profuse sweating, mental confusion, shaking, feeling unnaturally chilled and | or experience racing thoughts. In extreme cases, high or low blood sugar levels can result in seizures, convulsions and | or possible death.
Along with a trusted physician who designs a life plan comprised of moderated amounts diet, exercise and medication, you and your child will need to become familiar with the workings of a blood glucose meter which, used several times throughout the day, will quickly ascertain whether or not the individual’s blood sugar levels are in the target range. The outcome of these readings-taken at regular intervals- will determine if compensatory steps, i.e., insulin shot or proper food consumption need to be taken.
The good news is that once a child diagnosed as having diabetes becomes accustomed to the specifics of his | her condition, he | she can live a relatively “normal life” given the incorporation of regimented care and monitoring into his | her daily life. Generally speaking, diabetic persons who take their insulin at set times and follow their prescribed food and exercise plans will have minimal surprises in terms of unexpected low or high blood sugar levels.
Granted, there is no cure for children’s diabetes, or for that matter, diabetes of any form. Fortunately, though there are lifestyle changes that can greatly benefit those afflicted with the condition.
And when it comes right down to it, some simple lifestyle adjustments are minimal indeed where one’s longevity is concerned. In fact, the slight altering and monitoring of one’s food and diet can actually prove to be a great contributor to one’s overall health and fitness status, ability to concentrate, and pervasive positive mood.
Note: With any health-related issue, it is suggested that you always consult a trained medical professional before taking any specific course of action.
