UNDERSTANDING PEDIATRIC DIABETES
- Diabetes in children in which your child’s pancreas produces no insulin or generates just a small amount of it. Is also known as TYPE 1 DIABETES or Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and or, Juvenile Diabetes.
- It is also one of the most common unpreventable, chronic and autoimmune diseases in children or youth.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF TYPE 1 DIABETES
- Increased urination, often at night
- Increased thirst
- Lack of energy
- Sudden weight loss
- Blurred Vision
- Tummy Pains
- Infections
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Acetone breath
COMPLICATIONS
- Type 1 Diabetes if mishandled or untreated can cause a significant impact on your child’s body. However, the risk of numerous complications like Hypoglycemia, Hyperglycemia, and Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) can be significantly reduced by maintaining a blood sugar level close to normal most of the time wherein your child’s lifestyle can be a great factor.
HOW CAN PARENTS HELP?
- Teach your child about their daily care for Diabetes.
- Be involved in your child’s daily care.
- Maintain your child’s blood sugar at a normal level.
- Teach your child the importance of a healthy and well-balanced diet.
- Learn about your child’s proper nutrition and seek help from an expert which are dietitians.
HOW DIETITIANS CAN HELP?
- Proper handling of Diabetes in your child should be taught by an expert, parents should not only be based on google including providing the necessary nutrition for your child. Dietitians are food experts and can provide your child with a variety of research-based nutrition approaches that can help your child’s blood sugar at a normal level which include: carbohydrate counting, simplified meal planning, exercises, healthy food choices, medicine, and food management.