9 Causes of diabetes at a young age that must be watched out

Diabetes does not only affect adults, but also children. This is a condition of high blood sugar levels and can be harmful to health. Based on data released by the Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI), diabetes cases in children in 2014 reached 1000 cases. The following is an explanation of the condition of diabetes in children.

Diabetes mellitus in children

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease in children that is chronic in nature and disrupts the child's development. There are two types of diabetes, namely type 1 with a low amount of insulin levels due to damage to pancreatic cells. While type 2 diabetes is caused by insulin resistance.

Type of diabetes in children

At first glance, the symptoms of type 1 and 2 diabetes are difficult to distinguish because they both have similar signs. But usually diabetes in children has symptoms such as:

• Increased appetite
• Looks lethargic and powerless even though you eat large portions
• Black skin color
• Wounds appear that are difficult to heal
• Weight loss

Quoting from the Mayo Clinic, weight loss can occur in children with diabetes because there is no energy supply from sugar. This makes muscle tissue and fat deposits shrink. This is an early sign of diabetes in children.

Treatment of children with diabetes

As parents, it is important to monitor the development of children with diabetes. You have to pay attention to food intake, blood sugar levels in order to stay balanced. To make it easier, here are some ways to treat children with diabetes.

Monitor the child's blood sugar level to keep it normal

Regular monitoring of blood sugar levels is the main way to manage diabetes symptoms in children. You have to make sure your child gets regular blood sugar checks.

It is best if you have a device to check blood sugar levels at home to make it easier to check.

Checking blood sugar levels can be done through a simple blood test with a small puncture in the fingertip.

In addition, there is a new way to monitor blood sugar levels, namely continuous glucose monitoring or Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). This method may be most effective for people who show symptoms of a drastic drop in blood sugar (hypoglycemia).

CGM is applied to the body using a fine needle just under the skin, which checks the blood sugar level every few minutes.

However, CGM is not considered as accurate as regular blood sugar monitoring. So CGM can be an additional tool, but not a substitute for regular blood sugar monitoring.

Learn the types and how to use insulin

Type 1 diabetes in children is a condition in which the child's pancreas no longer functions to produce the hormone insulin. Therefore, children need insulin substitutes.

Parents should know the dosage and type of insulin that their little one can use. You also need to know how to provide insulin treatment for children.

There are several types of insulin that can be used, including:

Fast acting insulin

Insulin therapies such as lispro (Humalog), aspart (NovoLog) and glulisine (Apidra) work very quickly in lowering the body's blood sugar levels. Therefore, it is used 15 minutes before meals. However, the effects did not last long.

Short acting insulin

therapy insulin like real insulin (Humulin R) which lowers blood sugar levels quickly, but not as fast as insulin works quickly. Usually, this insulin is given 30-60 minutes before meals.

Moderate working insulin

Therapy such as NPH insulin (Humulin N) starts working in about an hour, peaks in about six hours and lasts 12 to 24 hours.

Long acting insulin

Insulin glargine (Lantus) and detemir (Levemir) therapy can work throughout the day. Therefore this insulin is used more at night and only once per day. Usually, long-acting insulin will be combined with fast-acting insulin and short-acting insulin.

The most common way of giving insulin is by injection (syringe or pen). However, insulin injections with a pen have not been provided for children.

Apart from injections, insulin can also be given via an insulin pump. This pump is a small electronic device the size of a cell phone. The pump is easy to carry, tie on your belt, or keep in your trouser pocket.

This pump will deliver insulin into your body which reacts rapidly through a small flexible tube (catheter) under the skin of your stomach and stored in place.

Pay attention to your little one's daily food intake

Understanding what and how much to feed a child with diabetes is very important. However, do not tell your child to have a special diet for diabetes patients. This will make children easily stressed because food choices tend to be just the same and will taste bland to him.

Just like other healthy children, children who have diabetes still need a lot of nutrients from a varied diet.

Foods for diabetic children are the same as others, such as fruits, vegetables, foods that are high in nutrients, low in fat, and within reasonable limits.

Have your whole family eat the same food as your little one. Do not differentiate between the food menu. You and your family may just need to eat less animal products and sugary foods.

Encourage children to exercise regularly

Encourage children to do physical activity regularly and make it part of their daily routine.

You can invite children to play romp in the yard, go around the complex by bicycle, jog while taking the pet dog for a walk, or swimming can be a choice of fun activities for children.

However, remember that physical activity can also lower blood sugar, so it will affect their blood sugar levels for up to 12 hours after exercise.

If your child starts a new activity, check the child's blood sugar more often than usual until you learn how his or her body reacts to the activity.

How to provide an understanding of diabetes in children

Explaining the condition of the disease in children is quite confusing. However, as a parent, you still need to explain the conditions that are being experienced by the child.

The following are guidelines for explaining diabetes in children:

• Encourage children to talk according to their age and understanding
• Engage with family conversations
• Use language that is easier to understand
• Give time for children to understand more

In giving understanding to children, he needs time to understand and digest new knowledge.

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