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Diabetes: Children & The Great Pretender

From the flu to colds to sore tummies - children tend to get sick frequently. So when your child seems thirsty all of the time, has to urinate frequently or even is just tired all of the time, you may attribute those symptoms to a common childhood illness.

Diabetes may be the last thing on your mind. Diabetes is sometimes called the “great pretender” since its first symptoms, like those described above, are often mistaken for those of more common childhood problems.

“Type 1 diabetes, or juvenile diabetes, is one of the most common chronic diseases in children,” says Dr. Francesco De Luca, of St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, “On the other hand, in recent years more and more children have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. The main reason for the increased prevalence of Type 2 diabetes in children is the dramatic rise of childhood obesity, which is a strong risk factor for Type 2 diabetes.” Children develop Type 1 diabetes when the pancreas stops producing enough insulin. The hormone insulin helps the body to change glucose (contained in our food) into energy. “If we don’t have enough insulin,” says Dr. De Luca, “glucose builds up in the bloodstream. As a result, children with Type 1 diabetes must depend on insulin injections to control their blood glucose levels. In children with Type 2 diabetes, blood glucose levels are high because the body cannot use insulin properly. To improve insulin action, children must take pills.”

According to Dr. De Luca, while insulin does not cure the disease, it helps to keep people with Type 1 diabetes healthy. High blood sugar can damage blood vessels, nerves and organs. Potential complications from diabetes include:

Retinopathy: a progressive eye disease that affects small blood vessels in the retina, eventually causing vision problems. In its most advance form, it may cause blindness.

Nephropathy: a slow deterioration of the kidneys and kidney function which, in severe cases, can eventually result in kidney failure.

Cardiovascular disease: a range of diseases that include stroke and heart attack.

Neuropathy: nerve damage that can lead to loss of feeling and sometimes pain and weakness in the feet, legs, hands and arms.

Classic symptoms of diabetes may include extreme thirst, the need to urinate frequently, drowsiness, sudden vision changes and weight loss despite a good appetite.

“Children with diabetes and their families must learn early about monitoring and controlling their body’s glucose levels, advises Dr. De Luca, “It’s often difficult in young children, who don’t like to get pricked for blood samples or insulin injections and who don’t fully understand their illness. For adolescents and teenagers, the fear of being ‘different’ or labeled ‘sickly’ may prevent them from properly taking care of their condition.”

Along with taking their medications (insulin or pills), children with diabetes should also follow a balanced diet to control their glucose intake and they must exercise regularly to help control their blood glucose levels and reduce their risk of long-term complications. With encouragement and support from families and friends, and good care provided by a team of diabetes specialists, children with diabetes can learn to live happy, healthy lives in spite of the disease.

Provided by St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children