CAUSES
‘The exact cause
of type 1 diabetes is still unknown. There is no defined set of population to
be considered at risk. However, research indicates that people who have a pool
of autoantibodies in their body are at a higher risk of developing it,
RISK FACTORS
diabetes is higher
in:
>Children who have
both the parents suffering from diabetes
>Children who have
mothers with a history of gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy)
>Children who have
suffered an infection of the pancreas
>Children who have
suffered trauma or injury of the pancreas
SYMPTOMS
Doctor
says ‘Diabetes is catastrophic disease. So, there are no definitive early
symptoms or signs. In fact, most of the patients end up directly in the
hospital where they are diagnosed with the condition.’ However, he mentions the
following as indicative symptoms of the condition:
#Weight loss
#Frequent urination or the onset of bed-wetting
#Recurring infections
#Fatigue and irritability
#Increased hunger and thirst
#Apart from these higlights a few more symptoms of type 1
diabetes
#Increased appetite compared to other children of the same age group
#Persistently weak appearance
#Visual problems
#Wounds, cuts or boils that do not heal quickly
#Increased appetite compared to other children of the same age group
#Persistently weak appearance
#Visual problems
#Wounds, cuts or boils that do not heal quickly
DIAGNOSIS
‘Eight out of ten
individuals with type 1 diabetes that I have come across have to be admitted to
the ICU setting due to diabetic coma resulting from dangerously high blood
sugar levels. It’s only the blood and urine test that reveal the condition for
the doctor and the family,’ says Doctor.
‘In case the
parents are watchful about the symptoms and get their child for a checkup, then
a medical history followed by a fasting and post-prandial blood glucose test is
done. If both the results for blood test show high glucose then type 1 diabetes
is diagnosed. Besides, the presence of ketones in the urine is also indicative
of the condition,’ says Doctor.
TREATMENT
‘Right now, the
mainstay for the treatment of the disease is insulin injections. A basal bolus
regimen, where a specific dose of insulin is administered after every meal to
control sugar levels throughout the day is usually a preferred option by
parents.
Alternatively, a
single dose of insulin can be administered once in a day to control the sugar
throughout. An insulin pump that delivers a specified dose of insulin at a
fixed time is another option. But it is too costly (about 5-7 lakh), so not
everyone can afford it,’ explains Doctor.
PREVENTION
As the exact cause
is unknown, type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented. According to Doctor however,
parents at high risk of having a child with the disease can reduce these risks
a bit by evaluating their history and by modifying their lifestyle to some
extent.
Doctor offers some tips for parents to manage the
condition in their children. As children cannot handle themselves, parents
should be extra careful about them.
Type 1 diabetes is
a sensitive disease, so parents should be cautious about hyperglycemia (high
blood glucose) and hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) because the sugar levels
can keep fluctuating drastically.
Regular follow up
with the doctor is a must. With type 1 diabetes, the risk of eye and kidney
complications is much greater, so be careful about the overall health of your
child.
Specific diet
medication is not required but a specified amount of carbohydrate should be
included in their diet. Your doctor will guide you with carbohydrate counting
and diet restrictions for your child.
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