Childhood Diabetes
Childhood Asthma Treatment in Kansas City, MO Serving Liberty & Independence, MO
Childhood diabetes is a chronic condition that affects how the body processes glucose, a simple sugar and a primary source of energy. While it can present unique challenges for children and their families, proper management can help children with diabetes lead healthy and fulfilling lives. It’s important that you know how to help your child deal with diabetes and what needs to be done to manage it.
Causes and Symptoms of Childhood Diabetes
There are two different types of diabetes that your child might deal with. The first is type 1 diabetes. This is an autoimmune condition in which the body’s immune system attacks insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This typically develops in childhood and requires daily insulin administration.
Type 2 diabetes is more commonly associated with adults but is increasingly seen in children partly due to rising rates of childhood obesity. This occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin or the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin.
Symptoms of childhood diabetes include:
- Increased thirst
- Frequent urination
- Unexplained weight loss
- Blurred vision
- Fatigue
- Slow-healing wounds
- Frequent infections
- Irritability or behavioral changes
Managing Diabetes
It’s important that you talk to your pediatrician about diagnosing your child with diabetes. If there’s a family history of diabetes, you especially should get your child tested early. Management may require medication. For type 1 diabetes, your child will need daily insulin therapy, which can be delivered via injections or an insulin pump.
It’s important to help your child monitor their blood sugar levels and maintain a balanced diet to keep them stable. If not well-managed, childhood diabetes can lead to complications like cardiovascular disease, nerve damage, or kidney problems later in life. Early intervention and consistent care significantly reduce these risks.
Get your child screened for diabetes by contacting Dr. Theresa Rinker, Dr. Amanda Zinger, and Dr. Alex Flanagan at Health Care for Children in Kansas City, and serving North Kansas City, Liberty, and Independence, MO, at (816) 792-1170.
