DIABETES IN TODDLERS

DIABETES IN TODDLERS 

Diabetes are of two types 

a.Type 1 diabetes and 
b.Type 2 diabetes 


TYPE 2 DIABETES:

Insulin is a hormone made by pancreas, which increases in the blood after a person eats. Insulin controls blood sugar by removing or taking the sugar or Glucose from the blood and moving it into the body cells. Because too much sugar in the blood can make a person sick. Type 2 diabetes can develop when insulin levels are always or often high. 

Insulin Resistant:
When your child is insulin resistant, then the pancreas has to work extra hard to make enough insulin to move sugar into body cells. Then too much sugar will build up in the blood and leads to Type 2 Diabetes. Insulin resistant means insulin is trying to move sugar into body cells but the sugar cannot get in. The common causes of insulin resistant are Body fat, Eating too much and unhealthy food, Genetic factors e.t.c.,
Physical Activity :

Encourage your child to do more physical activity for 1 hour per day. Children won’t pay interest to do exercises so make them do following activities which they enjoy most. The activities like

1. Join him on a sports team 
2. Encourage them to play outside 
3. Dance
4. Water balloon fight outside 
5. Wash the car
6. Fly a kite 
7. Test the child running speed, how fast they can run between telephone poles or houses. 
8. Skating 
9. Playing Parachute 
10.Yoga 
11. Gymnastics
12. Martial Arts 
13. Ride bike or scooter 
14. Walk the dog 
15. Take the stairs instead of the elevators 

These are some of the activities which you can make the child do and make them free or control from Diabetes 2. 

Along with the activities you have to meet your dietician to plan the diet. 

Diet: Make them limit intake of refined carbohydrates, 

Increase intake of Fiber, 

Limit intake of transfats and saturated fat. 

Along with the physical activities and diet, meet your doctor for a regular checkup and give medicines properly.

TYPE 1 DIABETES: 

Type 1 diabetes associated with a deficiency or lack of insulin. Usually, this Type 1 diabetes starts between 4&6 years of age and 10&14 years of age, approximately half of children diagnosed before the age of 10. 

The common signs and symptoms are: 
1. Increased Thirst
2. Frequent urination 
3. Extreme Hunger
4. Weight Loss
5. Fatigue 
6. Behavioral changes
7. Blurred vision 
8. Irritability 
Diabetes is a serious disease that can lead to other serious conditions such as heart disease and kidney failure. So proper care and treatment is needed

PRECAUTIONS DURING PHYSICAL ACTIVITY :

1. While doing physical activity you should be very cautious about the glucose levels. Because while doing activities the blood sugar levels may drop and leads to HYPOGLYCAEMIA. So before starting the exercises program give him extra carbohydrates. 

2. Check blood glucose levels before and after exercise. 

3. Prepare a kit that contains snacks, glucose tablets, fruit juice, water and any medications prescribed by your doctor. 

4. Be sure to check blood sugar levels more frequently after the activity and overnight to assess if insulin doses need to be adjusted. 

5. If your child is in sports, make sure that coach knows the child has  Type 1 diabetes and explain to the coach how to respond if any problem occurs.

6. Make your child wear a medical alert identification bracelet or Necklace that alerts others to your child’s diabetes. 

Follow these precautions and make your child to fully enjoy the same activities as every other kid do.

Please talk to your doctor before starting any exercise program