Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common endocrine diseases in children. With this disease is characterized by a regular increase in the level of sugar, and speaking in the medical language - glucose, in the blood.
According to the WHO classification, two types of diabetes are distinguished:
- I type - insulin-dependent;
- Type II is non-insulin dependent.
Diabetes mellitus in children refers to the second - an insulin-dependent type.
Causes of the disease
For many years, various studies have been conducted, the purpose of which is to establish the causes of the onset of diabetes in children. The most common cause contributing to the onset of this disease is the genetic predisposition, that is, simply speaking - the transmission of the disease by hereditary trait.
Factors contributing to the development of adolescent diabetes include various kinds of infectious diseases that contribute to the destruction of pancreatic cells, and as a consequence of this process - to increase the level of insulin. A certain platform that contributes to the development of the disease, creates the existing violations in the metabolism: obesity, hypothyroidism. To the causes of diabetes can also be attributed to the frequent stressful situations that cause violations in the mental state of the child.
Symptoms of diabetes in children
Symptoms of the disease in children with diabetes are very similar to adults, and this is:
- thirst;
- excessive urination (more than 2-3 liters per day);
- severe course of infectious diseases;
- inability to concentrate attention;
- increased fatigue.
Parents often do not notice these symptoms, which is a certain difficulty in diagnosing the disease. But there are certain characteristic signs of diabetes in children, which contribute to the identification of this disease. For example, this includes night urinary incontinence (enuresis). With diabetes, the child's urine output is exceeded by 2-3 times in comparison with healthy children.
Also in children with diabetes, very often there is furunculosis (skin lesion), itching and other similar symptoms. In infants, as signs of the disease can be identified:
- indigestion (vomiting, constipation, diarrhea);
- anxiety;
- such children very often suck breasts.
Treatment of diabetes in children
Parents facing a problem such as diabetes in a child are required to know how to treat diabetes in children.
The main drug used to treat diabetes is insulin. New pharmacological developments contributed to the creation of drugs of this group of long-acting, which makes it possible to do injections only once a day.
Then the parents ask: Can diabetes be cured in children? Unfortunately, today the opinions of specialists are such that diabetes of the first type, insulin dependent, which is typical for children, can not be cured. But in order to maintain the state of the child, improve his state of health, to maximize the leveling of all the consequences of this disease, it is required to include a certain diet regime for the child with diabetes in order to medication. Such a measure is an additional treatment for children. The food should be balanced, excluding the carbohydrate load, i.e. In the diet, products that are capable of increasing blood glucose levels should be absent or be restricted to consumption. These types of products include:
- all spicy fatty and smoked;
- sweets and bakery products;
- some types of cereals and pasta;
- potatoes.
With diabetes, meals should be regular and frequent enough - six or more times a day. For the treatment of diabetes in children use special complexes of physical activity, after which it is permitted, and sometimes recommended, the intake of carbohydrates.
Prevention of diabetes in children
If there is a chance of diabetes in your child, (eg genetic predisposition), then it's worth considering
- elimination of overeating;
- restriction in the use of flour products;
- control in the consumption of sugar;
- physical exercises;
- prevention of the onset of colds.
The diagnosis of diabetes is not a verdict, but a statement of fact that obliges you to lead a certain lifestyle and observe the rules established for such people.