DIABETES IN CHILDREN

DIABETES IN CHILDREN

Get to know diabetes in children so that mothers understand when to do an examination, let's understand it together.

Diabetes is a disease or health disorder characterized by high levels of sugar in the body. Diabetes can strike anyone, including children. Research conducted by the Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI), November 2021 there were 1,346 children with diabetes, type 1 diabetes mellitus is diabetes that many children experience.

Juvenile diabetes, which is now often referred to as type 1 diabetes, is a rare form of diabetes characterized by failure of the pancreas to produce insulin due to abnormalities in the immune system. It is estimated that only 5% of diabetic patients suffer from this condition.

Insulin is a hormone the body uses to convert glucose into energy, which cells need to stay healthy. The pancreas is responsible for producing insulin. However, in the case of juvenile diabetes, the immune system attacks the cells in the pancreas, resulting in impaired pancreatic function. Without insulin, blood sugar levels can increase, causing various complications, such as damage to other organs.

Symptoms of diabetes in children:

• Often hungry

• Often thirsty

• A lot of pee

• Free weight loss

• Fatigue and irritability

• Yeast infection in girls

• Heavy breathing

• Nausea and vomiting

• Impaired vision

The following signs are indications of an emergency. Mothers should seek immediate medical care if their child experiences one or more of the following symptoms:

• Severe stomach pain

• Loss of consciousness

• Rapid breathing

• Confusion followed by convulsions or shaking

• Bad breath

It is important to know the difference between type 1 diabetes (juvenile diabetes) and type 2. In type 1 diabetes, the islets of the pancreas, which are responsible for producing insulin, do not function. In type 2 diabetes, the islets are working but either the body has developed resistance to insulin, or the pancreas is not producing sufficient amounts of insulin.

Regardless of the type, the result is the same—organs and tissues become deprived of sugar and begin to malfunction. In addition, blood sugar levels increase, causing life-threatening complications.

Juvenile diabetes is impossible to avoid because this disease can be congenital or the patient has certain genes that cause the disease to appear. Research reveals that juvenile diabetes may be triggered by certain factors, such as viruses, the child's diet, and low levels of vitamin D.

If a child shows any of the above symptoms, other than a patient who requires emergency care, you need to consult a Pediatrician for examination and treatment. If the child exhibits symptoms that require emergency services, do not delay seeking emergency medical care or taking the child to the nearest hospital emergency department.