Diabetes
How can I tell if my child is developing diabetes?
by the Babble Staff
November 30, 2006
Diabetes
THE BABBLE TAKE
Diabetes is a disorder in which insulin, a hormone necessary for the body to process sugar, is either not produced or not accepted by the body. Symptoms include frequent urination, excessive thirst, increased appetite, weight loss and fatigue. Type 1 diabetes is most likely to affect a toddler and is caused by the inability of the pancreas to produce insulin. In Type 2 diabetes, the pancreas does produce insulin, but either it doesn't do so in adequate amounts or the body has developed a resistance to the hormone. Contrary to popular belief, experts say you don't get diabetes from eating too much sugar, though being overweight is a risk factor for Type 2. Type 2 used to be diagnosed mostly in people past forty, but it is increasingly common among children in the United States; this is partly due to the increased rate of childhood obesity. Type 2 is also much more likely than Type 1 to be genetic, and it affects people of African, Asian and Native American descent in disproportionate numbers. Both types can be managed through scheduled eating, regular insulin checks and other measures. Experts say it is essential to educate daycare providers and all the other people who care for your child on how to handle diabetes.
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BabyCenter ®
"Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases in children. Type 1 diabetes affects 1 in every 400 to 600 children and adolescents in the United States. In the past, type 2 diabetes was diagnosed mainly after age 40. Lately, though, more and more children are being diagnosed with it."
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American Diabetes Association
"Having a child with diabetes can cause many new stresses and worries. [. . .] There's not much that's more frightening than having your infant or toddler diagnosed with diabetes. There are age-related issues that you may come across when parenting an infant, toddler, teen, or young adult with diabetes. This section will give you tips, hints, and advice on parenting a child with diabetes."
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Dr. Greene
"Normally, a hormone called insulin pushes sugar from the blood into the body's cells where it can be used for fuel. The concentration of sugar in the blood remains within a fairly narrow range. If the body stops making insulin (type 1 diabetes), then adequate sugar doesn't get into the cells. [. . .] Without insulin, muscle and fat begin to be burned for fuel."
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About Kid's Health
"People have known about diabetes for a long time. About 2,500 years ago, someone wrote the first medical text that described a symptom of diabetes — producing too much urine (pee). The word 'diabetes' was later used to describe people who had to urinate often, because diabetes means 'to run through' or 'to siphon' in Greek."
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About.com
"Finding out that your child has been diagnosed with diabetes can be very frightening and overwhelming. Children and their families have to go through a tremendous learning experience to help the child manage his or her diabetes. But kids are adaptable and kids with diabetes can have very normal childhoods with preparation and understanding."
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