Diabetes

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic illness that often appears during childhood, especially type 1 diabetes. It affects the way your body uses insulin, a hormone that facilitates the transfer of glucose (a type of sugar) into your cells to be used as energy. 

Fortunately, it’s pretty easy to manage diabetes once you have a diagnosis. Caring Pediatrics specializes in treating the two types of diabetes that affect children:

Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes happens when your pancreas cannot produce any insulin of its own. Your immune system attacks and disables the cells within your pancreas that normally produce insulin. 

Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes, also called insulin resistance, can develop later in life or during childhood. Your body still produces insulin, it just can’t use it effectively. Unlike type 1, type 2 diabetes is linked to lifestyle factors like diet and exercise habits.

What are the early signs of diabetes?

Children have a unique set of early signs and symptoms that could indicate one of the two types of diabetes. Early symptoms of diabetes develop in kids because their bodies are constantly trying to flush out the excess glucose from their blood. 

You should contact Caring Pediatrics for an appointment if your child experiences any of the following:

• Excessive thirst
• Excessive hunger
• Frequent urination 
• Unintentional weight loss
• Fatigue

The main difference between how the two types of diabetes present in children is that type 1 symptoms have a sudden and more intense onset while type 2 symptoms appear gradually. 

How does diabetes management work?

Managing your child’s diabetes requires some changes you’ll have to implement in their diet and lifestyle. You might also need to give them daily medications to make up for the lack of insulin or their insulin resistance. 

For type 1 diabetes, you’ll need to monitor your child’s glucose levels regularly. Your child will need to take insulin every day, and the team at Caring Pediatrics can help you plan healthy meals to make for them at home. These healthier meal options will help them maintain stable levels of glucose in their blood. 

If your child has type 2 diabetes, the team works with you to make plans for a healthy diet and lifestyle changes. You should make sure they get regular physical activity and stick to a healthy diet. If these measures can’t control their blood sugar levels, they might also need to take insulin. 

Schedule your child’s consultation for diabetes management by calling Caring Pediatrics or booking an appointment online today.