As a parent, it is your responsibility to do everything in your power to keep your precious children in tiptop condition. You need to feed them a healthy diet and make sure they get a sufficient amount of sleep each and every night. Also, it is your duty to monitor your child’s health to ensure that they do not suffer from serious health problems. If you identify the signs and symptoms of problems, you need to get assistance as quickly as possible. Within this comprehensive parent’s guide, you will learn everything there is to know about type 2 diabetes in children.
What Is Type 2 Diabetes?
First and foremost, it is important to gain a better understanding of diabetes. What is it exactly? How is it different from type 1 diabetes? These are common questions that you will ask yourself. Type 2 diabetes is actually a metabolic disorder, which is caused by the body’s inability to produce enough or properly utilize insulin. Many years ago, type 2 diabetes was referred to as non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus or NIDDM. Type 2 diabetes generally occurs in adults, while type 1 is far more common in children. Nevertheless, children can develop both.
Differences Between Type 1 And Type 2 Diabetes
While type 1 and type 2 diabetes in children are similar, they’re also different in numerous ways. With type 1 diabetes, the patient either has a total lack of insulin or far too little. In terms of diabetes type 2, the patient’s body cannot use that insulin effectively. Over the past few years, type 2 diabetes in juveniles has increased significantly. If type 2 diabetes is not treated properly, it could result in the pancreas creating much less insulin over a period of time. This is often referred to as insulin deficiency.
In some cases, type 2 patients will be able to live a healthy, normal life without needing to take insulin. With type 1, the patient will always need to use insulin.
Signs And Symptoms Of Type 2 Diabetes In Children
It is absolutely pertinent to better familiarize yourself with the common signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes. By doing this, you will be able to determine when your child has a problem. This will enable you to take action immediately to rectify the problem or get it under control. The signs of diabetes will be virtually the same for adults and children. They’ll be explored in greater depth for your consideration below.
Common Fatigue
Be sure to monitor your child’s behavior. Do they seem lethargic or less energetic than before? If so, there is a possibility that they’re suffering from diabetes.
Hungrier Than Normal
Children suffering from type 2 diabetes will often feel hungrier than normal kids. They may also feel hungry right after eating. This is referred to as polyphagia. If you notice this symptom, you should take your child to the doctor right away.
More Frequent Urination
You should also monitor your child’s urination habits. Are they using the bathroom more frequently than normal? Do they seem to be using the bathroom much more frequently at night? This is another common sign of diabetes in juvenile.
Other Common Symptoms
- Abnormal thirst
- Blurred vision
- Itchy skin
- Cuts and wounds healing much slower
- Thrush or yeast infections
- Rapid weight loss or no reason
- Noticeable muscle loss
If you notice any of these symptoms, you need to get in touch with a doctor immediately. They’ll be able to diagnose the diabetes and then put together an effective treatment plan. Remember that CanadianInsulin.com has all of the diabetes supplies you could ever need for your child!
Causes Of Type 2 Diabetes In Kids
With the diabetic epidemic sweeping across the nation more and more people are hitting the Internet and speaking to their family doctors to find out more about this terrible disease. With that being said, you might be surprised to learn that adults aren’t the only ones being diagnosed with this condition. In fact, as the years go on more and more children are becoming victims of this condition. But, what is it exactly that is causing kids to develop this condition? Below, you will learn about the causes of type II diabetes in kids.
Genetics– New studies are showing that type II diabetes is now being recognized as a genetic condition. This means that if your mother or father has this condition, the chances of you developing it are more common. Of course, this doesn’t mean that just because your mother and farther have the condition, you are guaranteed to get it. In fact, if your mother and farther both have the condition, you might not even be diagnosed with it at all. It just simply means that your chances of developing it are greater.
As of right now, it is still unknown as to which genes exactly cause the condition to carry over, but the scientific community is well underway researching this very question.
Lifestyle Choices– While genetics can play a major role in the development of type II diabetes in kids, lifestyle choices are without a doubt one of the leading factors. For instance, if your mother and farther both have type II diabetes, but you take care of yourself and your body, you might avoid the disease altogether. Individuals that are overweight and inactive are much more likely to be diagnosed with type II diabetes than those that eat well and are physically fit.
Insulin Resistance – Sometimes you can be completely fit, eat right, and exercise daily, but your body might just not be able to utilize the insulin like it is supposed to. For instance, your body could be producing sufficient amounts of insulin, but it might not be getting absorbed into your cells, which will cause glucose to build up in the bloodstream.
Not Enough Insulin Production – Once again, you can be perfectly healthy and practicing all the right activities, but still be diagnosed with type II diabetes. In this case it might have something to do with the fact that your body just can produce enough insulin. As of current times, doctors are unable to determine exactly why some individuals can produce enough insulin, but they are well underway researching the condition.
How To Treat Type 2 Diabetes In Children
Type 2 diabetes is a serious problem, but it is not a death sentence. As long as you take the appropriate measures and help your child control the condition, they’ll be able to live a fulfilling life. In fact, they may actually get to the point that they no longer need to take insulin regularly. So, what can be done to properly treat type 2 diabetes? The answers are plentiful. Below, you’ll learn more about your treatment options.
Management
Besides taking type 2 diabetes medications, you should also begin taking steps to manage your health. There are numerous things that you can do to keep your diabetes in check. First and foremost, you should put together a healthy diet. If your child eats the wrong foods, you can pretty much guarantee that they’re going to experience frequent problems. Sticking with a healthy diet will give you the ability to keep the symptoms to a minimum. Be sure to consult with a nutritionist to put together a diet that is specifically designed to combat type 2 diabetes.
Exercising is absolutely vital as well. Exercising and working out on a regular basis can really make a world of difference. By taking the right insulin medications, eating right and exercising, there is a possibility that your child will be able to overcome the problem in the future. In fact, they may reach the point where the child no longer needs to take insulin drugs daily. This is definitely something that you should encourage your child to strive for.
Proper Blood Sugar Monitoring
Also, it is essential to teach your time how to properly monitor their blood sugar levels. If they do not know how to monitor their levels, they’re much more likely to experience problems in the future. Teach your child to use their blood sugar monitor. You may be able to help them in the beginning, but this is something that they’ll eventually have to do on their own. With that being said, you should encourage your child to begin taking responsibility for their own problems as early as possible. This is the best way to prepare them for a future life of independence.
Exploring Type II Diabetes Medications
With type II diabetes being such a huge epidemic throughout the world there are now a variety of different medications available to combat the disease. In fact, with the right combination of medications, healthy living, and eating, your children can leave a completely normal life, even if they are diagnosed with type II diabetes. Below you will learn about some of these different types of drugs and what exactly they are used for.
Sulfonylureas
Sulfonylurea is a type of type II diabetes medication that is prescribed to individuals that can’t produce enough insulin. For instance, this medication actually increases the amount of insulin that is produced by the pancreas, which in return lowers blood sugar levels. If eating the right foods, proper exercising, and weight loss are not combating your child’s diabetic condition, doctors will often times prescribe sulfonylurea.
Just keep in mind that type II diabetes is a type of condition that worsens over time, so it is possible that the amount and strength of this medication might need to be fine-tuned over time.
GLP-1 Agonists
GLP-1 Agonists is a new type of injectable medication that is prescribed to patients who cannot control their condition with tablet medications. This medication works by releasing insulin when the blood sugar levels in your body are too high. This type of drug is usually best served when it is taken after a meal or before a meal that might cause your blood sugar levels to rise.
Not only does GLP-1 Agonists increase the production of insulin made by the pancreas, but it also causes the liver to release its stored sugar into the bloodstream. Along with this, this type of medication can also reduce the speed at which the stomach empties after eating. This will actually cause you to feel more satisfied and stay fuller longer after consuming meals. When you combine this drug with the right diet and exercise it can be very beneficial to weight loss efforts.
DPP-4 Inhibitors
DPP-4 Inhibitors are another new type of oral medication that is being prescribed to individuals with type II diabetes. They are usually given to individuals that haven’t responded well to metformin or sulfonylureas medications.
Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitors
There are many different types of medications that can be enormously beneficial for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors are certainly a good option. These are actually oraldrugs that are designed for the management of diabetes. They are capable of preventing or slowing down digestive enzymes and making it difficult for the body to transform complex carbohydrates into glucose. These medications should be taken before your primary meals. There are many different medications that fit into this category. Voglib and Precose are two of the most common.
Sodium-Glucose Co-Transporter 2
Sodium-glucose co-transported help the kidney absorb sugar. There is a specific type of insulin medication that helps to block the kidney’s ability to reabsorb insulin. These medications are referred to as Gliflozins or SGLT2s. By stopping the kidney from absorbing the insulin, your child will actually eliminate the sugar through urinations. These drugs will sometimes cause your child to experience an increased rate of urinations. This ensures that even more blood sugar can be removed from the body. There are many excellent medications that fit into this category. They include Invokana, Jardiance, and Farxiga.
Biguanides
Biguanides consist of a huge group of compounds. They can be used for many purposes, but some are specifically used as anti-diabetic drugs. Metformin just happens to fit into this category. The entire purpose of Metformin and similar drugs is to slow down the liver’s ability to produce sugar. These drugs are also capable of increasing insulin sensitivity. In return, this allows your body to better absorb and process sugar. This just happens to be one of the most common type 2 diabetes medications. You should definitely consult with your child’s doctor about biguanides.