Type 2 Diabetes In Children
Topic Overview Is this topic for you? This topic provides information about type 2 diabetes in children. If you are looking for information about type 1 diabetes, see the topic Type 1 Diabetes: Children Living With the Disease. What is type 2 diabetes? Type 2 diabetes is a disease that develops when the body's tissues cannot use insulin properly. Over time, the pancreas cannot make enough insulin . Insulin is a hormone that helps the body's cells use sugar (glucose) for energy. It also helps the body store extra energy in muscle, fat, and liver cells. Without insulin, the sugar cannot get into the cells to do its work. It stays in the blood instead. This can cause high blood sugar levels. A person has diabetes when the blood sugar stays too high too much of the time. High blood sugar can cause problems with the eyes, heart, blood vessels, nerves, and kidneys. High blood sugar also makes a person more likely to get serious illnesses or infections. In the past, doctors believed that type 2 diabetes was an adult disease and that type 1 diabetes was a children's disease. Now, more and more children are getting type 2 diabetes. Finding out that your child has diabetes can be scary. But your child can live a long, healthy life by learning to manage the disease. What causes type 2 diabetes? Doctors do not know exactly what causes diabetes. Experts believe the main risks for children getting type 2 diabetes are being overweight, not being physically active, and having a family history of the disease. Also, the hormones released during the early teen years make it harder than usual for the body to use insulin correctly. This problem is called insulin resistance. It can lead to diabetes. What are the symptoms? Most children with type 2 diabetes do not have symptoms when the disea Continue reading >>
Causes Of High Blood Glucose And Low Blood Glucose
Low or high blood sugar in a child with diabetes can cause loss of responsiveness. All of the cells in our body depend upon sugar in our blood as the main source of energy. This sugar comes from the foods that we eat. Certain organs in our body also make and store sugar. When the body is working properly, it automatically regulates the amount of sugar in the blood. When there is too much sugar in the blood, the body makes insulin, which lowers blood sugar. When blood sugar levels are too low, the body cuts back on the amount of insulin that it is making and lets the blood sugar levels rise. When blood sugar levels in the body are lower than normal, a child has hypoglycemia. Signs of hypo-glycemia in a healthy child are usually mild, such as irritability. In a child with diabetes, hypoglycemia can lead to loss of responsiveness if not treated quickly. A diabetic child can get hypoglycemia if he doesn’t eat enough or doesn’t eat at the right time. He can get hypoglycemia if he takes too much insulin. Blood sugar levels may drop because of exercise, being overheated, or illness. A diabetic child may have too much sugar in the body. This is called hyperglycemia. It is the opposite of hypoglycemia. This condition may be caused by too little insulin, illness, or stress. It may be caused by overeating, inactivity, or a combination of all of these factors. If you are not sure if the child has hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia, give sugar. See if the symptoms improve. Always call EMS if symptoms are severe or if the child becomes unresponsive. Signs of Hypoglycemia and Hyperglycemia Signs of Hypoglycemia Signs of Hyperglycemia Irritability Paleness Drowsiness Confusion Trembling Excessive Sweating Poor coordination Slurred speech Staggering Eventual loss of responsivene Continue reading >>
Type 1 Diabetes: Children Living With The Disease
Topic Overview Is this topic for you? This topic covers type 1 diabetes in children. For information about type 1 diabetes in adults and about preventing complications from type 1 diabetes, see the topic Type 1 Diabetes. What is type 1 diabetes? Type 1 diabetes develops when the pancreas stops making insulin. Your body needs insulin to let sugar (glucose) move from the blood into the body's cells, where it can be used for energy or stored for later use. Without insulin, the sugar cannot get into the cells to do its work. It stays in the blood instead. This can cause high blood sugar levels. A person has diabetes when the blood sugar is too high. What will it be like for your child to live with type 1 diabetes? Your child can live a long, healthy life by learning to manage his or her diabetes. It will become a big part of your and your child's life. You play a major role in helping your child take charge of his or her diabetes care. Let your child do as much of the care as possible. At the same time, give your child the support and guidance he or she needs. How can you manage diabetes? The key to managing diabetes is to keep blood sugar levels in a target range. To do this, your child needs to take insulin, eat about the same amount of carbohydrate at each meal, and exercise. Part of your child's daily routine also includes checking his or her blood sugar levels at certain times, as advised by your doctor. The longer a person has diabetes, the more likely he or she is to have problems, such as diseases of the eyes, heart, blood vessels, nerves, and kidneys. For some reason, children seem protected from these problems during childhood. But if your child can control his or her blood sugar levels every day, it may help prevent problems later on. What symptoms should you wat Continue reading >>
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Diabetes: What Schools Should Know
Diabetes is a disease in which the body is unable to utilize sugar effectively, resulting in high blood sugar levels. In order to maintain a normal blood sugar, the person must balance food intake, exercise and insulin. Food raises blood sugar Exercise and insulin lower blood sugar This balance may be difficult to maintain, so it is important to know how to recognize when a child needs help. Please share this information with all teachers, school nurses, principals, lunchroom personnel, playground and hall supervisors, and bus drivers who will be in contact with a student with diabetes. Low Blood Sugar (Insulin Reaction or Hypoglycemia) is caused by: Too much insulin Not enough food or delayed meal or snack Strenuous activity such as gym class Symptoms: Paleness Excessive perspiration Lack of coordination Hunger Irritability Shaking Headache Abnormal behavior Drowsiness Inability to concentrate Confusion Dizziness Treatment: 1. Give a fast-acting source of sugar**. Any one of the following is appropriate: a. 4 oz. of any type fruit juice or regular soda b. 2 - 4 glucose tablets or glucose gel (available from pharmacist) c. 4 sugar cubes ** If the child is unconscious, do not give anything by mouth. An injection of glucagon will need to be given. Call parents and emergency personnel immediately. A child who is feeling low should not be sent unaccompanied to seek treatment. Insist the student take one of the above if a low blood sugar is suspected. A sugar source should be stored in the classroom (i.e. teacher’s desk) for students too young to carry their own. Speak to the parents about how they would like low blood sugars to be treated. 2. Symptoms should improve in 10 to15 minutes. Check the child’s glucose level in 15 minutes to ensure it has improved. If there is Continue reading >>
For Parents & Visitors
Have you ever tried to fly a remote control airplane or helicopter? If you steer too sharply one way, your plane will crash into the ground. And if you go too far in the opposite direction, the plane will nose directly upward, making it difficult to control. For people with diabetes, controlling blood sugar levels (or blood glucose levels) is kind of like piloting that plane. To stay in the air and have the most fun, you have to keep blood sugar levels steady. Having a blood sugar level that's too high can make you feel lousy, and having it often can be unhealthy. What Is High Blood Sugar? The blood glucose level is the amount of glucose in the blood. Glucose is a sugar that comes from the foods we eat, and it's also formed and stored inside the body. It's the main source of energy for the cells of our body, and it's carried to each cell through the bloodstream. Hyperglycemia (pronounced: hi-per-gly-SEE-me-uh) is the medical word for high blood sugar levels. High blood sugar levels happen when the body either can't make insulin (type 1 diabetes) or can't respond to insulin properly (type 2 diabetes). The body needs insulin so glucose in the blood can enter the cells of the body where it can be used for energy. In people who have developed diabetes, glucose builds up in the blood, resulting in hyperglycemia. Having too much sugar in the blood for long periods of time can cause serious health problems if it's not treated. Hyperglycemia can damage the vessels that supply blood to vital organs, which can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke, kidney disease, vision problems, and nerve problems in people with diabetes. These problems don't usually show up in kids or teens with diabetes who have had the disease for only a few years. However, these health problems can Continue reading >>
Kids And Ketones: Checking And Treating High Blood Glucose
Low blood glucose levels usually have warning signs such as shaking, sweating and rapid heartbeat, but high blood glucose levels can be silent until things start to get out of control. The staff in the Joslin Pediatic Clinic has this advice. One of the vital warning signs of an impending diabetic crisis is the appearance of ketones in the blood or urine. For children with type 1 diabetes and their parents, understanding the role of ketones in a diabetic emergency and knowing how to check for them and what to do if your child has them can mean the difference between a good night’s sleep and many tense hours in the emergency room. (Ketoacidosis almost always occurs in people with type 1 diabetes) Too little insulin for too long a time initiates a cascade of hormonal changes in the body that can lead to the dangerous condition of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). If left untreated, it can lead to coma and death. In the face of inadequate circulating insulin, glucose builds up in the blood instead of moving into the tissue cells where it would be used for fuel. Without glucose to burn for energy, the body turns to fat for fuel. The special type of fat it uses is called ketones. Because ketones are an acid, the body needs to supply a base (the opposite of an acid) to neutralize their effects and maintain the blood’s natural pH. However, the body’s supply of base,such as NH3 (anydrous ammonia) (is limited and at some point the system is overwhelmed and the blood pH starts to decline. This drop in blood pH is one of reasons ketoacidosis is so serious. The body can’t accommodate changes in blood pH well. Illness can often be a precipitating cause of DKA. Infection can spike glucose levels and additional insulin is often required. If the needs for additional insulin aren’t Continue reading >>
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Hyperglycaemia (high Blood Sugar)
Hyperglycaemia is having too much glucose (sugar) in your blood. This can happen for many reasons, such as: missing a dose of your usual medication being less active than usual eating too many carbohydrates, found in sugary foods and drinks, and other foods such as potatoes, bread and pasta being sick or taking medication being stressed having an infections (e.g. thrush, cystitis, wound infections) drinking too much alcohol. If you have hyperglycaemia, you might: feel thirsty feel tired have a dry mouth need to pass urine frequently have a headache feel confused feel drowsy. It’s important that if you feel like this, you act on it. If not treated, a high blood sugar level can lead to a serious condition called diabetic ketoacidosis. Here are some steps you can take if you find your blood sugar level is higher than it should be. Get plenty of rest. Contact your doctor or Credentialled Diabetes Educator for advice about increasing your dose of short acting insulin. You may also need extra doses of this insulin (e.g. 2-4 units every 2 hours ). Check your urine for ketones if you have the necessary equipment. Always test using urine that you have just freshly passed, otherwise you may not get a true reading. Drink plenty of sugar-free, non-alcoholic fluids such as water to stay well hydrated. Try to avoid alcohol and drinks containing caffeine, such as cola, tea and coffee, as these can dehydrate you. Check your blood sugar level regularly to see if it is going down. Contact your doctor or go to hospital if: vomiting is stopping you from drinking or eating your blood glucose levels remain high you find moderate to high levels of ketones in your urine. Continue reading >>
Hyperglycemia - Infants
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Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is the type of diabetes that typically develops in children and in young adults. In type 1 diabetes the body stops making insulin and the blood sugar (glucose) level goes very high. Treatment to control the blood glucose level is with insulin injections and a healthy diet. Other treatments aim to reduce the risk of complications. They include reducing blood pressure if it is high and advice to lead a healthy lifestyle. What is type 1 diabetes? What is type 1 diabetes? Play VideoPlayMute0:00/0:00Loaded: 0%Progress: 0%Stream TypeLIVE0:00Playback Rate1xChapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off, selected Subtitles undefined settings, opens undefined settings dialog captions and subtitles off, selected Audio TrackFullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. TextColorWhiteBlackRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyOpaqueSemi-TransparentBackgroundColorBlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyOpaqueSemi-TransparentTransparentWindowColorBlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyTransparentSemi-TransparentOpaqueFont Size50%75%100%125%150%175%200%300%400%Text Edge StyleNoneRaisedDepressedUniformDropshadowFont FamilyProportional Sans-SerifMonospace Sans-SerifProportional SerifMonospace SerifCasualScriptSmall CapsReset restore all settings to the default valuesDoneClose Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Diabetes mellitus (just called diabetes from now on) occurs when the level of sugar (glucose) in the blood becomes higher than normal. There are two main types of diabetes. These are called type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes usually first develops in children or young adults. In the UK about 1 in 300 people develop type 1 diabetes at some stage. With type 1 diabet Continue reading >>
Hyperglycaemia (high Blood Sugar)
Hyperglycaemia is the medical term for a high blood sugar (glucose) level. It's a common problem for people with diabetes. It can affect people with type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes, as well as pregnant women with gestational diabetes. It can occasionally affect people who don't have diabetes, but usually only people who are seriously ill, such as those who have recently had a stroke or heart attack, or have a severe infection. Hyperglycaemia shouldn't be confused with hypoglycaemia, which is when a person's blood sugar level drops too low. This information focuses on hyperglycaemia in people with diabetes. Is hyperglycaemia serious? The aim of diabetes treatment is to keep blood sugar levels as near to normal as possible. But if you have diabetes, no matter how careful you are, you're likely to experience hyperglycaemia at some point. It's important to be able to recognise and treat hyperglycaemia, as it can lead to serious health problems if left untreated. Occasional mild episodes aren't usually a cause for concern and can be treated quite easily or may return to normal on their own. However, hyperglycaemia can be potentially dangerous if blood sugar levels become very high or stay high for long periods. Very high blood sugar levels can cause life-threatening complications, such as: diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) – a condition caused by the body needing to break down fat as a source of energy, which can lead to a diabetic coma; this tends to affect people with type 1 diabetes hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state (HHS) – severe dehydration caused by the body trying to get rid of excess sugar; this tends to affect people with type 2 diabetes Regularly having high blood sugar levels for long periods of time (over months or years) can result in permanent damage to parts Continue reading >>
Type 1 Diabetes High Blood Sugar Symptoms
Wondering about the signs and symptoms of hyperglycemia—or high blood sugar? High blood sugar occurs in type 1 diabetes when the body has too much glucose/food or not enough insulin. Having hyperglycemia symptoms doesn’t immediately put you in danger but regular high blood-sugar levels over time does. That’s because they can lead to complications including blindness, heart disease, kidney failure and amputation. What are the symptoms of high blood sugar? – Thirst – Frequent urination – Stomach pain – Blurry vision – Increased Hunger Other signs of hyperglycemia With high blood sugar, you may also experience drowsiness, exhaustion, nausea or vomiting, confusion, fruity or sweet-smelling breath, impaired concentration and sweating. And, having very high blood-glucose levels for an extended period can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). DKA happens when the body starts to burn fat and body tissue for energy. This releases toxic acids called ketones that build up in the blood and urine—and can lead to a diabetic coma. So if you’re experiencing any of the above signs or symptoms, it’s important to get checked out by your doctor. The earlier high blood-sugar issues are treated, the better. Your support is more critical than ever Continue reading >>
Type 2 Diabetes In Children
For decades, type 2 diabetes was considered an adults-only condition. In fact, type 2 diabetes was once called adult-onset diabetes. But what was once a disease mainly faced by adults is becoming more common in children. Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that affects how the body metabolizes sugar (glucose). Over 5,000 people under the age of 20 were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes between 2008 and 2009. Until 10 years ago, type 2 diabetes accounted for less than 3% of all newly diagnosed diabetes cases in adolescents; it now comprises 45% of all such cases. It’s more common in those aged 10-19 and in non-Caucasian populations, including African Americans, Native Americans, Asian/Pacific Islanders, and Hispanics. Being overweight is closely tied to the development of type 2 diabetes. Overweight children have an increased likelihood of insulin resistance. As the body struggles to regulate insulin, high blood sugar leads to a number of potentially serious health problems. In the past 30 years, obesity in children has doubled and obesity in adolescents has quadrupled, according to the CDC. Genetics may also play a role. For instance, the risk of type 2 diabetes increases if one parent or both parents has the condition. Symptoms of type 2 diabetes are not always easy to spot. In most cases, the disease develops gradually, making the symptoms hard to detect. Many people do not feel any symptoms. In other cases, children may not show any obvious signs. If you believe your child has diabetes, keep an eye out for these signs: Excessive fatigue: If your child seems extraordinarily tired or sleepy, their body may not have enough sugar to properly fuel their normal body functions. Excessive thirst: Children who have excessive thirst may have high blood sugar levels. Frequent Continue reading >>
What Are The Signs & Symptoms Of Blood Sugar Problems In Children?
Carbohydrates are sugars the body uses for its energy needs. Sugars can be simple, like glucose, or complex, like the sugars that make up pasta, bread and rice. Children can have several blood sugar problems. These include disorders of carbohydrate metabolism, in which the child’s body cannot properly process certain complex sugars; hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar; and hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar. Video of the Day There are several disorders of carbohydrate metabolism. According to the Merck Manual, children with glycogen storage diseases have difficulty changing glycogen, the storage form of unused glucose, back into simple sugars for energy use. These disorders can be fatal. Symptoms of glycogen storage diseases include low blood sugar, which can cause confusion, lethargy and seizures, and protrusion of the abdomen, as the liver becomes enlarged with the unused and unprocessed glycogen. Children with these disorders also can have growth retardation and frequent infections. Another disorder of carbohydrate metabolism is galactosemia, a condition in which newborn babies are born unable to process galactose into simpler sugars. The accumulation of galactose causes jaundice, lose of appetite, diarrhea and frequent serious bacterial infections. Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, results when the quantity of glucose in the blood falls to levels that impair the functioning of the body’s tissues. According to the Children’s Hospital Boston, the causes of hypoglycemia in children include a delayed or missed meal, especially in children with diabetes who take sugar-lowering drugs; hyperinsulinism, in which the child’s pancreas secretes too much insulin, lowering blood sugar; and certain congenital conditions. Symptoms of hypoglycemia include jitteriness, shakines Continue reading >>
Acute Emergencies Of Diabetes
Hypoglycemia: Low Blood Sugar (Insulin Reaction) Warning signs and symptoms of low blood sugar (insulin reaction) happen suddenly. Signs and symptoms can easily be mistaken for misbehavior. The child may not recognize symptoms developing. Severity of a low blood sugar reaction progresses from mild to severe. Severe reactions are preventable by early detection and treatment of low blood sugars. Be familiar with identification and treatment of low blood sugar to avert an emergency situation. Blood sugar can go to low if the child with diabetes has: taken too much insulin not eaten enough food had extra exercise without extra food Mild Hypoglycemia Signs and Symptoms Treatment Behavioral Signs: A wide variety of behaviors can occur. Behavior changes may include: acting quiet and withdrawn being stubborn or restless tantrums of sudden rage confusion inappropriate emotional responses (eg: laughter, crying) poor concentration or day dreaming Shakiness Sweatiness Headache Dizziness Pallor Increased Heart Rate NOTE: It may take the child several hours to recover following a low blood sugar episode. The student should not be expected to perform at optimal levels, but having diabetes should never be an excuse for poor overall school If you don't know what the blood sugar is, treat the symptoms. Never send a child who you suspect is having a low blood sugar to the nurse's office. Send another student to get help if you need it. Give the child some quick-acting sugar such as: 3 - 4 ounces of juice 6 - 8 ounces of REGULAR pop 2 - 4 glucose tablets 5 - 6 lifesavers 6 - 8 ounces Milk Check the blood sugar 20 -30 minutes after treatment. If the blood sugar result is less than 80, or if the child still has symptoms, repeat the quick sugar treatment and blood sugar testing cycle until th Continue reading >>
Diabetes In Children And Teens: Signs And Symptoms
With more than a third of diabetes cases in the United States occurring in people over the age of 65, diabetes is often referred to as an age-related condition. But around 208,000 children and adolescents are estimated to have diabetes, and this number is increasing. Type 1 diabetes is the most common form of the condition among children and adolescents. A 2009 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that type 1 diabetes prevalence stands at 1.93 in every 1,000 children and adolescents, while type 2 diabetes affects 0.24 in every 1,000. In 2014, Medical News Today reported that, based on a study published in JAMA, rates of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes have increased significantly among American children and teenagers. The study found that incidence of type 1 diabetes in children aged up to 9 years increased by 21 percent between 2001 and 2009, while incidence of type 2 diabetes among youths aged 10-19 years rose by 30.5 percent. The researchers note: "The increases in prevalence reported herein are important because such youth with diabetes will enter adulthood with several years of disease duration, difficulty in treatment, an increased risk of early complications and increased frequency of diabetes during reproductive years, which may further increase diabetes in the next generation." Contents of this article: Here are some key points about diabetes in children. More detail and supporting information is in the main article. Type 1 and 2 diabetes are both increasing in the youth of America Often, the symptoms of type 1 diabetes in children develop over just a few weeks If type 1 diabetes is not spotted, the child can develop diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) What is diabetes in children? Type 1 diabetes in children, previously called juve Continue reading >>
