The pancreas’ inability to produce enough insulin to reduce blood sugar levels is type 1 diabetes. Children may have various symptoms, from fatigue to hazy vision to increased thirst and appetite.
Blood glucose, or blood sugar, regulation issues are a dangerous health condition known as diabetes. Over time, significant consequences can result from high blood sugar levels. Juvenile diabetes, also referred to as type 1 diabetes, frequently manifests in kids, teenagers, and young adults, but it can happen to anyone at any age. Even though both can develop in children, the illness differs from type 2 diabetes.
Both types present similar symptoms, but type 1 is brought on by an immune system attack on the pancreatic cells that make insulin. As a result, people must manually administer insulin to control their blood sugar levels as their body can no longer generate any or enough of it. Type 2 diabetes occurs when people’s bodies no longer respond as well to insulin as they once did. This blog covers the potential warning signs and symptoms of type 1 diabetes in children, along with management and treatment options.
Type 1 diabetes is a chronic (lifelong) autoimmune disease that prevents your pancreas from generating insulin. An essential hormone called insulin controls glucose (sugar) levels in your blood. In typical conditions, insulin works in the ways described below:
· Your body converts the food you eat into glucose (sugar), which is used as the body’s primary energy source.
· Glucose enters your bloodstream, telling your pancreas to release insulin.
· For your muscle, fat, and liver cells to either utilize or store the glucose in your blood for later use, insulin helps them take it in.
· Your bloodstream’s decreased glucose levels tell your pancreas to stop making insulin as soon as glucose enters your cells.
Without adequate insulin, your blood sugar levels rise, resulting in hyperglycaemia (high blood sugar), and your body cannot use the food you eat as fuel. If left untreated, this may result in major health issues or even death. Synthetic insulin is required daily to sustain life and maintain health in people with Type 1 diabetes.
The prevention of diabetes‘s negative effects depends heavily on early detection. The American Diabetes Association states that although type 1 diabetes can start at any age, it is most frequently diagnosed in children or newborns.
· Urinating frequently
· Excessive levels of thirst or hunger
· Weight loss despite a healthy diet
· Injury recovery is sluggish.
· distorted vision
· Fatigue
· When a child who has been potty trained resume bedwetting, type 1 diabetes may be present.
How exactly do type 1 diabetes and dental issues relate to one another? According to the American Dental Association, the most prevalent condition affecting people with diabetes is periodontal disease. If blood sugar is not well controlled, it can have a number of negative dental impacts.
· A dry mouth can be caused by uncontrolled diabetes, which can reduce saliva (spit) flow. Additionally, pain, ulcers, infections, and tooth damage can result from dry mouth.
· Increased chance of cavities
· If left untreated, gum disease, including gingivitis and periodontitis, could develop.
· Potential issues with the taste of some meals.
· Increased chance of oral infections like thrush
· Slower wound healing
· Teeth may appear in young children earlier than in their classmates.
· Thrush is the root cause of mouth burning.
For children with type 1 diabetes, there are various blood tests available. These tests are used to identify diabetes and track how well it is being managed:
Random test for blood sugar: The main screening test for type 1 diabetes is this one. A random blood sample is collected. Diabetes is indicated by a blood sugar level of 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L) or greater and by the presence of symptoms.
Test for glycated haemoglobin (A1C): This test reveals your child’s three-month average blood sugar level. Diabetes is diagnosed when two different tests show an A1C level of 6.5% or above.
Fasting blood sugar test: Your youngster will have their blood drawn after fasting for at least eight hours or overnight. Type 1 diabetes is suggested by a fasting blood sugar level of 126 mg/dL (7.0 mmol/L) or greater.
If blood sugar testing reveals diabetes, your doctor could advise additional tests to distinguish between type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes, as each kind has a different course of treatment. Blood tests to look for antibodies that are frequently found in type 1 diabetes are among the additional examinations.
Type 1 diabetes can result in diabetic ketoacidosis, hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar if it is not controlled. If your child has type 1 diabetes, it’s crucial to be informed about the different treatment options.
Type 1 diabetes must be treated with insulin. Several distinct insulin varieties are offered, including regular, short-acting, fast-acting, immediate-acting, and long-acting insulin. The rate of action and duration of action of these various insulin variants vary. Consult your doctor to determine the best insulin dosage for your child.
Injections or an insulin pump are the two ways to administer insulin to the body. Numerous daily injections of insulin are given directly under the skin to achieve any essential insulin requirements. A rapid-acting insulin is automatically given to the body by an insulin pump throughout the day.
Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) can be used individually or in conjunction with an insulin pump in addition to administering insulin. A CGM continually monitors blood glucose levels using a sensor beneath the skin. It gives notifications when blood sugar levels rise or fall.
In the management of type 1 diabetes, dietary control is crucial. The two dietary suggestions for type 1 management that are most frequently given are meal planning and carbohydrate counting. To determine how much insulin to need, you must count the carbohydrates.
The timing of your meals can also aid in preventing too high or too low blood sugar levels. Understanding that individuals with type 1 diabetes can still consume carbohydrates is crucial. But since fibre slows down the body’s absorption of glucose, complex carbs with lots of fibre should be the main focus. Whole grains, fruits, and vegetables are all excellent sources of carbohydrates.
Type 1 diabetes is a disorder that needs lifetime monitoring because there is currently no cure. Make careful to keep up with any required blood and urine testing if your child has this issue. Encourage frequent exercise as well, as this might assist in maintaining stable blood sugar levels. Additionally, monitoring blood sugar levels before, during, and after exercise is critical to prevent dangerously low levels.
Maintaining the child’s blood glucose level under control is the first step. Sugar may show up in the saliva if blood sugar levels are elevated. Bacteria thrive in sugar, which can lead to gum disease and other issues with oral health. The American Dental Association advises using fluoride toothpaste to brush teeth at least twice daily since it helps prevent tooth decay.
Additionally, flossing at least once a day is advised since it aids in removing food debris and plaque from in between teeth. Lastly, visit the dentist twice a year to ensure no emerging dental or gum issues. Tell the dentist that your child has diabetes so they can examine the mouth for signs of the condition, such as swollen gums, dry patches, bleeding, and other issues.
Diabetes is harmful to oral health, particularly when blood glucose levels are poorly managed. Periodontal disease is more common in children with diabetes, and any periodontal infections may have a negative impact on glycaemic control. Diabetes that is poorly managed raises the risk of caries as well, probably due to decreased salivary function and an increase in cariogenic bacteria.
The substantial preventative and therapeutic care required to maintain the health of oral tissues in this patient population can be given by dental experts. The importance of dental health to a child’s long-term systemic health should also be communicated to parents and caregivers of diabetic children.
The author is a contributing writer at Dental News Pakistan and can be reached at amna0795@yahoo.com
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