Physical Activity For Children With Type 1 Diabetes
Children, regardless if they have type 1 diabetes, need to be active. Teaching the importance of exercise and physical activity early on will form healthy habits that will serve your child well into adulthood. But physical activity also impacts blood glucose (blood sugar) levels, and as a parent, you need to know how to respond to these changes. This article explains how to incorporate physical activity into your child's routine and keep his and her blood glucose level within a stable range. For people with diabetes, being active provides a slew of important health benefits. These include lowering blood glucose levels and improving your body's ability to use insulin. In essence, exercise helps your child control his or her diabetes. And in the long run, this will reduce the chances of your child experiencing certain health problems related to diabetes. You can read more about the benefits of physical activity for people with type 1 diabetes in our article about exercise and type 1 diabetes. Activities for Your Child with Type 1 Diabetes Being active is most beneficial when it's done on a regular basis. That's why you should find out what activities most interest your child. If your child actually enjoys the activity, then it greatly increases the odds that he or she will continue to participate. If your child is interested in sports, then sign him or her up for a school or summer sports league. But don't worry if your child doesn't want to participate in an organized activity. Your child can be just as active in your own backyard as on a sports field. Encourage your child to play outside with friends, ride a bike, or walk the dog. Also, take advantage of the many opportunities you have each day to set a good example for your child. Take the stairs instead of the elevato Continue reading >>
How Does Type 2 Diabetes Affect Children?
Years ago, it was rare to hear about a child with type 2 diabetes. Doctors used to think kids only got type 1. It was even called juvenile diabetes for a long time. Not anymore. Now, according to the CDC, more than 208,000 people younger than 20 have this disease. That number includes both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Here's what you need to know if your child is diagnosed. You've probably heard diabetes and high blood sugar mentioned together. Here's what happens. Your digestive system breaks down carbohydrates into a type of sugar called glucose. Your pancreas creates a hormone, known as insulin, that moves glucose from your blood into your cells, where it’s used for fuel. In type 2 diabetes, the cells in your child's body don’t respond to the insulin, and glucose builds up in her bloodstream. This is called insulin resistance. Eventually, the sugar levels in her body get too high for it to handle. That could lead to other conditions in the future, like heart disease, blindness, and kidney failure. Type 2 diabetes is most likely to affect kids who are: Girls Overweight Have a family history of diabetes American Indian, African-American, Asian, or Hispanic/Latino Have a problem called insulin resistance The single biggest cause of type 2 diabetes in children is extra weight. In the U.S., nearly 1 out of every 3 children is overweight. Once a child gets too heavy, she’s twice as likely to get diabetes. One or more of these things may contribute to extra weight or obesity: Unhealthy eating Family members (alive or dead) who've been overweight Rarely, a hormone problem or other medical condition As with adults, type 2 diabetes is more likely to affect children who carry extra weight around the middle. At first, there may be no symptoms. Over time, you may notice: Hun Continue reading >>
You Can Help Children Avoid Type 2 Diabetes
Once upon a time, type 2 diabetes was called “adult-onset diabetes.” If children had diabetes, 99 times out of 100 it was type 1 diabetes; type 2 diabetes didn’t appear until midlife. But now, about 3,600 American children are newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Type 2 Diabetes: Why the Increase? “No one is certain why, but most experts believe that it is related in part to the obesity epidemic,” explains Frank Diamond, MD, clinical director for the University of South Florida Diabetes Center and professor of pediatrics at the University of South Florida in Tampa. “We now have approximately 17 percent of the pediatric population that is overweight. Genetically at-risk children may be acquiring the disease earlier because of the increased insulin resistance associated with their early obesity. We are seeing many children with adult weights in our pediatric clinics today.” Dr. Diamond also notes that the increase may be due to a rise in the proportion of children with ethnic minority heritage that puts them at increased risk for type 2 diabetes. Basically, says Paul Robertson, MD, president of medicine and science at the American Diabetes Association, and professor of medicine and pharmacology at the University of Washington in Seattle, the causes of childhood type 2 diabetes boil down to genetic risk mixed with physical inactivity and poor eating habits. “We know if the diets are corrected and they lose the weight, the diabetes becomes undetectable,” says Dr. Robertson. Type 2 Diabetes: What Parents Can Do The first step to preventing type 2 diabetes in childhood is to face the fact that it can happen to children, says Diamond. Then be on guard for symptoms and ask for diabetes scr Continue reading >>
Diabetes And Your Smile
Did you know that 29.1 million people living in the United States have diabetes? That’s 9.3% of the population. Approximately 1.7 million new cases are diagnosed each year—and 8.1 million people living with diabetes don’t even know they have it. Diabetes affects your body’s ability to process sugar. All food you eat is turned to sugar and used for energy. In Type I diabetes, the body doesn’t make enough insulin, a hormone that carries sugar from your blood to the cells that need it for energy. In Type II diabetes, the body stops responding to insulin. Both cases result in high blood sugar levels, which can cause problems with your eyes, nerves, kidneys, heart and other parts of your body. So what does this have to do with that smile of yours — and how can you protect it? First, it’s important to understand the signs of diabetes and the roles they play in your mouth. The Symptoms of Untreated Diabetes The warning signs of diabetes affect every part of your body. After a blood test, you may be told by a doctor that you have high blood sugar. You may feel excessively thirsty or have to urinate a lot. Weight loss and fatigue are other common symptoms. Diabetes can also cause you to lose consciousness if your blood sugar falls too low. If diabetes is left untreated, it can take a toll on your mouth as well. Here's how: You may have less saliva, causing your mouth to feel dry. (Dry mouth is also caused by certain medications.) Because saliva protects your teeth, you’re also at a higher risk of cavities. Gums may become inflamed and bleed often (gingivitis). You may have problems tasting food. You may experience delayed wound healing. You may be susceptible to infections inside of your mouth. For children with diabetes, teeth may erupt at an age earlier than is Continue reading >>
Type 2 Diabetes In Children
What You Need to Know about Type 2 Diabetes in Children A review of the ADA Consensus Statement on "Type 2 Diabetes in Children and Adolescents" Introduction There has been growing concern about the recent sharp increase in reported cases of type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents. Several studies have documented this epidemic. In light of this and the fact that little is known about type 2 diabetes in children, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) developed a panel of experts to review current trends and to develop consensus about the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of type 2 diabetes in young people. The consensus statement, Type 2 Diabetes in Children and Adolescents, was published in the March, 2000 issue of Diabetes Care. We present here a simplified summary of that consensus statement for the lay public. Types of Diabetes in Children Type 1 diabetes (diabetes caused by a defect in the immune system which leads to destruction of the insulin-producing beta cells) has classically always been considered the only type of diabetes in children except in rare instances. Indeed, type 1 diabetes was called "juvenile diabetes" in the past. However, some recent findings suggest that somewhere between 8 - 45% of newly diagnosed children with diabetes, may indeed have type 2 (insulin deficiency due to other factors). At the time of diagnosis, it may not be possible for the classification to be correctly determined, because symptoms and findings often are similar. Types of Diabetes in Children Type 1 (immune-mediated) Diabetes Usually not obese; often recent weight loss Short duration of symptoms (thirst and frequent urination) Presence of ketones at diagnosis with about 35% presenting with ketoacidosis. Often a honeymoon period after blood sugars are in control duri Continue reading >>
Type 1 Diabetes In Children
Overview Type 1 diabetes in children is a condition in which your child's body no longer produces an important hormone (insulin). Your child needs insulin to survive, so you'll have to replace the missing insulin. Type 1 diabetes in children used to be known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes. The diagnosis of type 1 diabetes in children can be overwhelming at first. Suddenly you and your child — depending on his or her age — must learn how to give injections, count carbohydrates and monitor blood sugar. Type 1 diabetes in children requires consistent care. But advances in blood sugar monitoring and insulin delivery have improved the daily management of the condition. Symptoms The signs and symptoms of type 1 diabetes in children usually develop quickly, over a period of weeks. These signs and symptoms include: Increased thirst and frequent urination. Excess sugar building up in your child's bloodstream pulls fluid from tissues. As a result your child might be thirsty — and drink and urinate more than usual. A young, toilet-trained child might suddenly experience bed-wetting. Extreme hunger. Without enough insulin to move sugar into your child's cells, your child's muscles and organs lack energy. This triggers intense hunger. Weight loss. Despite eating more than usual to relieve hunger, your child may lose weight — sometimes rapidly. Without the energy sugar supplies, muscle tissues and fat stores simply shrink. Unexplained weight loss is often the first sign of type 1 diabetes to be noticed in children. Fatigue. Lack of sugar in your child's cells might make him or her tired and lethargic. Irritability or behavior changes. In addition to mood problems, your child might suddenly have a decline in performance at school. Fruity-smelling breath. Bu Continue reading >>
How Much Is Your Child's Diabetes Influencing His Behavior?
Your child is in the midst of a temper tantrum, which a kid will do no matter what his age, and before you discipline him, you stop yourself with these questions: “Maybe it’s his blood sugar. Maybe he’s low again. Maybe his BG readings are high. Then again, maybe he’s just plain acting out.” These questions plague most parents with children who have diabetes: How can you really know if a tantrum is just bad behavior or if it’s diabetes? Diabetes adds in a new level of complexity to parenting and specifically to reading and then managing a child’s behavior. Before a diabetes diagnosis, an all-out temper tantrum may have meant a trip to the Time-Out Corner. Or, if you’ve an older child, a fast trip to his room with all privileges revoked (and don’t forget to give me your phone and iPod on your way to room) Now, with diabetes in the picture, parents need to consider whether or not BG levels are impacting their kids’ behavior. Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, is characterized by symptoms like mood changes, irritability, irrational behavior and even belligerence. Parents of Type 1 kids know these tell-tale signs all too well and often pull out the glucose tabs as their first line of defense. On the other hand, high BG levels or hyperglycemia can impact behavior too. Symptoms are wide ranging, and include general malaise, difficulty concentrating, nausea and headaches. My son likens prolonged high blood sugars to being poisoned. Who’s not going be a bit on the cantankerous side if he’s feeling like that? The ADA conducted a study with feedback from 42 parents with Type 1 kids aged 5 to 10. For the study, researchers measured a child’s BG levels twice during a 72-hour period and had his parents fill out a questionnaire with behavior-related questions Continue reading >>
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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 >>
The Infant And Toddler With Diabetes: Challenges Of Diagnosis And Management
Go to: Infants and toddlers comprise a small minority of individuals with type 1 diabetes. However, epidemiological data provide evidence of a trend towards diagnosis at a younger age. These very young children pose significant challenges to both the health care professionals involved in their care as well as to their families. At diagnosis, younger children often do not present with classical symptoms of diabetes. Unless health professionals remain alert to the possibility of diabetes being the underlying cause of a child’s illness, the diagnosis may be missed. Once the diabetes has been diagnosed, the major challenge is to set up a treatment regimen that is both reasonable and realistic; in the youngest children, the goal of very tight metabolic control may expose them to episodes of severe hypoglycemia which may lead to subtle cognitive impairments later in life. The therapeutic regimen must balance the naturally erratic eating and exercise patterns of very young children with the need to maintain adequate metabolic control. Setting a blood glucose target range of 6 to 12 mmol/L usually allows this to be accomplished. Diabetes during early childhood creates a psychosocial challenge to the families of these children. Successful management of infants and toddlers with diabetes depends on a well functioning and educated family, the availability of diabetes health care team experienced in the treatment of these youngsters, and the involvement of the extended family, child care personnel and others who play a role in their daily care. Keywords: Infants, Metabolic control, Toddlers, Type I diabetes Children under three to five years of age with type I diabetes comprise a small proportion of all those with this disorder: less than 1% of all children are diagnosed in the f Continue reading >>
Why Do Parents Of Type 1 Kids Fear The Night?
You may hear many parents of Type 1 kids talk about how they don’t sleep much at all and how scary night time really is. But do you really know why it’s so scary? Let’s look at it this way as a person without diabetes, your pancreas is still fully working properly, you can go to bed and not have to worry about anything going wrong with your blood sugar, that’s because your pancreas is working around the clock to ensure you are stable all though the night with insulin and glucagon (if you happen to get low). However, with Type 1 diabetes my children’s pancreas decided to give up and quit their job. Now instead, it’s left to us, it’s our job to function as their vital organs, the pancreas. Unlike a pancreas which really doesn’t require sleep, we as human beings do. There are a few things I’ve learned about night time. The first is I truly, truly locate night time with my entire being. And the second is because of the unpredictability of diabetes during the night. I’ve had an endo tell me once to stop testing overnight so much, that really all they needed was 2 overnight tests each week. Well that didn’t sit too well with me, but overworked, and sleep deprived I decided to give it a shot one time, and go to bed without testing my child. Yes, that might shock pretty much all of you, but we were new to this and I decided to listen to the medical professional. Well what happened you might ask? My son woke up at 3am and was “dizzy“, after testing him he was low with a blood sugar of 50! I knew that feeling in the pit of my stomach was something to listen to when I went to bed. For more diabetes information related to parenting read the following: So as we move on in this life I am always learning something new, in fact when my son was to have dental s Continue reading >>
How To Manage Your Kid's Type 1 Diabetes
If your child has recently been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, your family will have a learning curve as you get the hang of proper care and a new routine. Your lives will change, but in time you'll get more comfortable with this "new normal." As you make adjustments, you can take comfort in knowing this autoimmune disease doesn’t have to limit your child. "Kids with diabetes can do everything other kids can do," says Andrea Petersen Hulke of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Hospitals offer educational courses that can give your family and caregivers the insight needed to help manage this new situation. The main change is learning to frequently check and adjust blood glucose levels (also called "blood sugar"). It may need checking 10 to 12 times a day. How much insulin your child needs will depend on the timing of meals, the types of food eaten, and her activity levels. It can take a bit of math skill to keep blood sugar levels within a healthy range. But it will get easier with practice. Even if you make a mistake, once you learn the symptoms of how your child reacts when her levels are too low or high, you’ll know how to fix it. "The math was freaky at first, but there are so many tools to help," says Lisa Sterling, who found out her daughter (now 17) had type 1 when she was 11. Logs, meters, and online trackers will help you stay on top of things. Insulin can be given by shots (syringe or pen) or by pump. Doctors often start with shots while families learn the basics. A pump is a small computer that gives a steady dose of insulin. You still need to track blood sugar levels to help the pump work right. You, your doctor, and child will decide together which device your child should use. "The goal is to manage diabetes around your child's life,” not the Continue reading >>
5 Things To Know About Kids And Diabetes
Diabetes occurs when a child’s body can’t process sugar from food very well. Here’s what parents need to know about this disease. 1. There are two types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is not as common as Type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes usually shows up in children, but Type 2 diabetes is more likely to appear in adults than kids. If you have Type 1 diabetes, your body does not make enough insulin, a hormone that helps process sugar from food. If you have Type 2 diabetes, your body does not respond to insulin the way it should. 2. More kids are getting Type 2 diabetes. “Being overweight can lead to Type 2 diabetes in children,” says John Galgani, MD, a community pediatrician at Esse Health, board-certified pediatric endocrinologist and president-elect of the medical staff at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. “Kids who have a family history of diabetes are also at risk.” 3. You can prevent Type 2 diabetes. “Getting lots of exercise and physical activity helps keep kids from gaining too much weight and lowers their chances of getting Type 2 diabetes,” Dr. Galgani says. “Children should also eat a healthy diet. At least half their plates should be filled with fruits and vegetables. Avoid sugary sodas and fruit drinks.” 4. Both types can cause similar symptoms. Going to the bathroom a lot and drinking a lot of water are signs of both types of diabetes. Losing weight and suddenly having problems with wetting the bed are also common in children with diabetes. 5. Controlling diabetes is important for kids. “Both types of diabetes put kids at risk for serious problems that can take years to develop,” says Paul Hruz, MD, PhD, a Washington University pediatric endocrinologist at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. “Vision problems, eye disease, kidney proble Continue reading >>
Type 1 Diabetes Symptoms
Type 1 diabetes develops gradually, but the symptoms may seem to come on suddenly. If you notice that you or your child have several of the symptoms listed below, make an appointment to see the doctor. Here’s why symptoms seem to develop suddenly: something triggers the development of type 1 diabetes (researchers think it’s a viral infection—read this article on what causes type 1 diabetes, and the body loses its ability to make insulin. However, at that point, there’s still insulin in the body so glucose levels are still normal. Over time, a decreasing amount of insulin is made in the body, but that can take years. When there’s no more insulin in the body, blood glucose levels rise quickly, and these symptoms can rapidly develop: Extreme weakness and/or tiredness Extreme thirst—dehydration Increased urination Abdominal pain Nausea and/or vomiting Blurry vision Wounds that don’t heal well Irritability or quick mood changes Changes to (or loss of) menstruation There are also signs of type 1 diabetes. Signs are different from symptoms in that they can be measured objectively; symptoms are experienced and reported by the patient. Signs of type 1 diabetes include: Weight loss—despite eating more Rapid heart rate Reduced blood pressure (falling below 90/60) Low body temperature (below 97º F) There is an overall lack of public awareness of the signs and symptoms of type 1 diabetes. Making yourself aware of the signs and symptoms of type 1 diabetes is a great way to be proactive about your health and the health of your family members. If you notice any of these signs or symptoms, it’s possible that you have (or your child has) type 1 diabetes. A doctor can make that diagnosis by checking blood glucose levels. 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 >>
Biology For Kids
Science >> Biology for Kids Disease: Diabetes What is diabetes? Diabetes is a disease that causes a person to have high blood sugar. Over time, high blood sugar can damage organs such as the kidneys and heart. Nerve and blood vessel damage can lead to blindness and even the need for amputation of extremities such as the toes. High blood sugar is a result of the body not getting enough insulin or not responding to the insulin it is getting. What is insulin? Insulin is a hormone produced by an organ called the pancreas. Insulin takes the sugar in our blood (also called glucose) and helps it get absorbed into our cells. Our cells then use the glucose for energy. Why is insulin important? When there isn't enough insulin in the blood two things happen. First, the glucose level in the blood increases. As the body continues to eat food, carbohydrates are turned into glucose and absorbed into the blood stream to be used for energy. If there is no insulin, the glucose can't be absorbed by the cells and used up. Second, the cells are starved of energy. They end up getting their energy from fat. Type I or Juvenile Diabetes Type I diabetes is caused when the body's own immune system decides to attack the pancreas and destroy the cells (called beta cells) that make insulin. Doctors aren't sure what causes the immune system to do this, but, once all the beta cells are destroyed, the pancreas will stop producing insulin. Type I diabetes is often referred to as juvenile diabetes. This is because most people are first diagnosed with the disease while they are still young. However, some people do get the disease later in life. Also, once a person has the disease they will have it for their entire life. There is no cure. Type II Type II diabetes is when the pancreas doesn't produce enough Continue reading >>
