Diabetes is a serious medical condition that impacts children as well as adults. With early detection and treatment, you can help your child manage their condition and live a healthy and normal life.
Pediatric care practitioners Rainilda Valencia, MD, Micaela Marin-Tucker, PA-C, and Megan Reynolds, C-PNP, from Valencia Pediatrics in Victorville, California, recommend parents look out for symptoms of diabetes in their children to ensure prompt diagnosis and treatment. Read on to learn more about the most common signs of childhood diabetes.
Diabetes is a condition that impacts how your child produces insulin, making it difficult for their body to move sugar into their bloodstream. It’s a lifelong condition that can develop in children and adults.
There are two types of diabetes, type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes means your child can’t produce insulin at all, while type 2 diabetes means their body doesn’t use insulin correctly.
Type 1 diabetes is more common in children and usually starts under the age of 20. Type 2 diabetes is more common in adulthood but can also develop in children.
Diabetes is a highly treatable condition, but our team can’t start treatment until we make a diagnosis. The best way to ensure an early diagnosis is by monitoring your child at home for the symptoms of diabetes.
Without the prescribed treatment, diabetes can cause serious side effects, including diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), heart disease, kidney disease, and vision problems. It can even be fatal in the most serious cases.
As soon as you suspect your child might have diabetes, bring them in for an evaluation. Our team either starts treatment immediately or provides other appropriate interventions if they have a different condition.
The symptoms of diabetes vary somewhat depending on whether your child has type 1 or type 2. Type 1 diabetes symptoms include:
Type 2 diabetes symptoms include:
Children with type 2 diabetes can also develop darker patches of skin. These most commonly occur in the neck, armpit, or groin.
Type 1 diabetes is genetic and not possible to prevent. However, you can help decrease your child’s likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes by helping them stay active, eat a healthy diet, and maintain a healthy weight for their age and height.
If our team diagnoses your child with either type of diabetes, we develop a treatment plan to help them manage the condition and stay as healthy as possible. Most children with diabetes live normal, healthy lives when they stick to their treatment.
If your child has type 1 diabetes, they need to take insulin on a regular schedule to replace the insulin their body doesn’t produce. Our team finds the right insulin for your child and teaches you and your child how to check their blood sugar to ensure it’s at the correct levels.
If your child has type 2 diabetes, they might need medication to help control their blood sugar. Some children with type 2 diabetes can manage their condition with lifestyle changes like portion control, eating a healthy diet, getting enough exercise, and maintaining or attaining a healthy weight.
If you think your child is displaying signs of diabetes, make an appointment at Valencia Pediatrics today for a full evaluation.
