Active Fit: Type 1 Diabetes in Children

Every year in the United States, 13,000 children are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, and more than 1 million American youth and adults deal with the disease every day.

Diabetes, a disease that affects how the body uses glucose (the main type of sugar in the blood) is a chronic condition that requires close attention.  Glucose comes from the foods we eat and is the major source of energy needed to fuel the body's functions.

Type 1 diabetes (formerly called insulin-dependent diabetes or juvenile diabetes) results when the pancreas loses its ability to make the hormone insulin. In type 1 diabetes, an individual’s immune system attacks and destroys the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. Once those cells are destroyed, they will not ever make insulin again.

The condition cannot be prevented, and there is no practical way to predict who will get it. 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. Once a person has been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, it does not go away and requires lifelong treatment.

A child can have diabetes without knowing it because the symptoms are not always obvious and can take a long time to develop. Type 1 diabetes may develop gradually or suddenly. Symptoms of type 1 diabetes include:

• Frequent urination – The kidneys respond to high levels of glucose in the bloodstream by flushing out the extra glucose in urine. A child with diabetes needs to urinate more frequently and in larger volumes.
• Abnormal thirst – Because the child is losing so much fluid from excessive urination, he or she may become very thirsty. A child who has developed diabetes drinks more in an attempt to ensure the normal level of body water.
• Weight loss – (A child fails to gain weight during typical growth periods) in spite of a good appetite. Kids and teens who develop type 1 diabetes may have an increased appetite, but often lose weight. This is because the body breaks down muscle and stored fat in an attempt to provide fuel to the hungry cells.
• Fatigue – A child with type 1 diabetes often feels tired because the body cannot use glucose for energy properly.

Youth and teens with diabetes need to monitor and control their glucose levels.  On a daily basis, it is essential to:

• Check blood sugar levels a few times daily by testing a small blood sample.
• Ensure insulin injections, or use an insulin pump.
• Eat a balanced, healthy diet and pay special attention to the amounts of sugars and starches in the food eaten and the timing of meals.
• Get regular exercise to help control blood sugar levels and help avoid some of the long-term health problems that diabetes can cause, such as heart disease.
• Work closely with a primary care provider and diabetes healthcare team to help achieve the best possible control of diabetes and monitor for signs of complications or other related issues.

Helping your child maintain good blood sugar control as much as possible and teaching the importance of eating a healthy diet and participating in regular physical activity can help prevent complications. Scheduling regular visits with your child's physician and a yearly eye exam (beginning no more than five years after the initial diabetes diagnosis) also can be helpful. For more information on type 1 diabetes, consult your family physician or contact one of the Licking Memorial Pediatrics offices at (220) 564-4940 or (740) 964-3325.