Children’s diabetes: how to protect a child from a terrible disease

Parents make every effort to keep their child healthy. As the baby grows up, changes occur in his body. The level of hormonal changes at 10-12 years old puts the pancreas at risk, there are risks of diabetes mellitus. The situation is aggravated by the child’s hereditary predisposition to illness, so the question of how to protect a child from a terrible illness remains relevant.

The reasons for the development of the disease

Childhood diabetes is type 1 and 2:

  • The first type is associated with a lack of insulin produced by the pancreas. May be hereditary. If mom or dad has diabetes, there is a 75% chance that the child will get the disease. Pathology is formed at an early age, so it is important to exclude the risk of its development; 
  • The second type is characterized by a relative lack of pancreatic protein hormone. The disease develops throughout life, so it is more common in adults. Every year the disease “gets younger”, which is why it is important to control the problem from an early age. 

Popular reasons for the formation of diabetes mellitus in children:

  • Binge eating. Modern children often eat sweet foods, fast food, and carbonated drinks. The combination with a sedentary lifestyle leads to obesity. Diabetes is a consequence of the increased load on the islets of Langerance as a result of increased body weight; 
  • Abdominal trauma. Young children prefer to walk outside, run, jump and play. Injuries resulting from falls or impacts to the abdomen form small hematomas. They do not cause discomfort to the child and go unnoticed. Several traumatic episodes lead to a malfunction of the tissues of the pancreas; 
  • Cold infection. Viruses can directly infect the pancreas. Diabetes develops several weeks after infection. The longer the baby has a high body temperature, the higher the chance of fatal damage to organ tissues; 
  • Autoimmune effects on the body. Bacteria, viruses and fungi multiply in the kidneys, tonsils, and stomach. Immunity falls, the cells of the pancreas are perceived as hostile, weakened and attacked by the body. Cell damage leads to diabetes mellitus. 

The combination of several reasons is more likely to provoke the onset of the disease. At the planning stage of the child, the expectant mother is recommended to visit specialized clinics in order to reduce the possible risks of the disease in the unborn child.

How to protect your baby from illness?

Genetic predisposition is the main risk of transmission of diabetes mellitus, which cannot be insured against. Parents can take safety measures at the stage of planning a child if the fact of illness of a mother or father is already known. Gynecological counseling is an effective method to minimize risks. The main measures to protect a child from diabetes:

  • Diet regulation. Reducing the consumption of fatty, high-calorie foods has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the pancreas; 
  • Timely treatment of infectious diseases. This also includes strengthening the child’s immunity with drugs, fruits, vegetables, useful broths (compote, fruit drink). During the spread of viruses, avoid large crowds of people, take vitamins, watch your own health; 
  • Fight against chronic diseases. Treatment of gastritis, caries or tonsillitis must be carried out to the bitter end; 
  • Timely response to abdominal pain, treatment of injuries after received blows and abrasions. Keep your child aware of the risk of injury to the abdominal area; 
  • Compliance with daily hygiene procedures.

Simple prevention significantly minimizes the risks of the disease. The manifestation of the initial symptoms is a signal for an urgent visit to the clinic! Detecting diabetes early will help compensate for the damage to the body.

Symptoms

To protect your child from a terrible illness, study the list of symptoms of diabetes:

  • Incessant thirst. Does your child drink more water than usual? This should be alarming. The constant consumption of increased volumes of fluid often leads to enuresis, even if nocturnal incontinence is a thing of the past; 
  • Dryness of the skin and mucous membranes is the second symptom of diabetes. Moisture leaves the body along with urine, dehydration occurs. Dryness provokes itching of the skin; 
  • Change in body weight up or down. Against the background of changes, there is an increased fatigue of the child, deterioration in visual acuity and physical fitness. 

From a young age, the baby should be monitored by an endocrinologist. An annual visit to a doctor is an effective method to reduce the risks of further development of diabetes mellitus!

Treatment

The therapeutic plan depends on the type of diabetes mellitus, the patient’s individual complaints and the age of the child. At the initial stage, stationary methods are proposed, including an integrated approach to the treatment of pathological processes. Subsequently, dispensary observation is carried out. Basis of treatment:

  • Compliance with diet and nutritional care;
  • Insulin injections;
  • Training adapted to the capabilities of the child;
  • Normalization of day and night mode.

Food excludes foods with a high content of carbohydrates and fats. Floury products, confectionery products are controlled (depending on the age of the child). Shown are herbal teas, vegetables. The diet is divided into 5-6 small meals to speed up metabolism. Constant monitoring of body weight is performed.

Physical and psychological development

Movement is life. Moderate physical activity should be present in the child’s social activity. Hiking, cycling, resting outside the city and practicing in sports sections will have a beneficial effect on the development of the baby’s muscular and bone skeleton. A wall bar, a treadmill or a horizontal bar at home is an option for children who prefer a home lifestyle. Overloading the body is unacceptable, since it has only a negative effect. Childhood diabetes is triggered by stress factors. Keep track of the psycho-emotional background in the family, do not let screams, quarrels and scandals. Solve conflict situations with the child through dialogue, without switching to raised tones. The baby’s nervous system is strengthened by positive emotions, social development with peers, intellectual development and supportive relationships with relatives. Stress has no place in a child’s life.

The pool is a combination of 2 factors at once. Swimming strengthens the general muscular system, develops coordination of movements, the ability to concentrate, and increases endurance indicators. Being in the water soothes emotions, relieves nervousness, improves daytime and nighttime sleep.

Conclusion

To protect the child from a terrible illness, carefully monitor the symptoms, systematically observe the attending physician, and exercise with the child. The disease is becoming “younger” every year, so you need to control its formation from an early age!

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