The complications of diabetes are very serious. Despite modern treatment, more than 50% of children develop serious complications within 12 years after the onset of the disease. From type 2 diabetes mellitus, kidneys, eyesight, vessels, nerves suffer. The incidence of type 1 diabetes is increasing among children and adolescents by 3% per year, and among young children - by 5% per year. According to the estimates of the International Diabetes Federation, 70,000 children under the age of 15 each year have type 1 diabetes - almost 200 children a day! One more alarming trend is gaining momentum. It used to be that type 2 diabetes is basically the lot of older people. Today, this type of diabetes is "younger" and grows horrendously in children and adolescents.
Researchers argue: the reasons for this growth are not only genetic, but also external factors. For example, environmental pollution, the rejection of breastfeeding and a later introduction to solid food. Scientists believe that, having matured, many children will face diabetes in the future, unless serious measures are taken. Already today, more than 240 million people in the world suffer from diabetes. This number, judging by the experts' forecasts, is threatening to increase more than half - up to 380 million within the lifetime of one generation. Recently, one of the American scientific centers predicted that one-third of all children born in the US in 2000 will develop type 2 diabetes during their lifetime. If a type 1 diabetes (formerly called insulin-dependent) has a very short initial, latent period, then insidiousness of type 2 lies in the fact that it has been developing imperceptibly for quite a long time. More precisely, doctors can determine even the first violations of carbohydrate metabolism and take measures to stop (or significantly slow down) the development of a dangerous disease. But the child himself, his parents may not know these signs and delay with clarifying the diagnosis and starting treatment. The proposed article will help you overcome your illiteracy, and therefore protect your children from the threat of type 2 diabetes.
Over the past decade, changes in the structure and incidence of diabetes mellitus have affected all age groups. It is no longer a secret that type 2 diabetes occurs in both adults and children. For a long time, cases of diabetes mellitus with an insulin-independent course in pediatric practice were considered an exception. Today, along with the pandemic of type 2 diabetes in adults, endocrinologists note the growth of this pathology in children, teenagers and young people. The latest data show that from 5% to 30% of cases of newly diagnosed diabetes in children can be attributed to type 2 diabetes. And this, unfortunately, suggests the possibility of early development of complications of diabetes.
Diabetes mellitus type 2 is characterized by the following symptoms:
- The onset of the disease in most cases is latent, the thirst is moderate or it is not, sugar in the urine is often determined in the absence of ketones in the urine, ketoacidosis is observed rarely, up to 5% of cases. Often a diagnosis is made on preventive examinations.
- Characterized by overweight, there may be a slight weight loss at the onset of the disease. The secretion of insulin has been preserved for a long time. Typical insulin resistance is the immunity of cells of the body to insulin, because of which glucose is not absorbed by cells. The cells of the body are starving, despite the fact that the level of sugar in the blood is excessive.
- Heredity plays a big role. In 40% - 80% of cases, one of the parents has this disease. In 74% - 100% of cases there is a relative of the 1 st and 2 nd line of relationship with diabetes.
- Autoimmune markers in the blood are not detected, there are specific skin signs. In girls, diabetes is often combined with polycystic ovary syndrome.
About groups and risk factors
It is important for all parents to know about the risk factors for diabetes in order to prevent its development or to identify and start treatment in time. In the group of children with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, those who have close relatives with this disease are the first to be included. A separate risk factor is gestational diabetes in the mother of the child. At a high risk of diabetes are also indicated diseases, which are accompanied by a decrease in the action of insulin. This syndrome of polycystic ovaries, arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia - violations of fat metabolism. Skin signs of insulin resistance - dark thickened spots on the skin in the armpit, on the neck, elbows - may indicate a violation of sensitivity to insulin.
Excess weight is dangerous!
We should not forget that the growth of type 2 diabetes is closely related to the increase in the number of complete children. Particular caution should be shown by the parents of those children whose body weight exceeds the ideal figure by 120 or more percent. In 10 years, all children should undergo a preventive examination by an endocrinologist with a determination of blood glucose. But if the child is overweight, do not wait until he reaches this age. Lead him to the doctor before!
Children with already identified impaired glucose metabolism by the type of impaired glucose tolerance and impaired fasting glycemia should necessarily be under the supervision of an endocrinologist and adhere to his recommendations. Thus, it is children with overweight and weighed down inheritance that are most vulnerable to type 2 diabetes. Begin treatment as early as possible, once the doctor has determined that the child is overweight. This can happen even in 3-4 years.
The risk of adherence to obesity increases with the age of the child. When he becomes a teenager, he will be more difficult to lose weight. It will be even more difficult to maintain a normal body weight. At the same time it is proved that even a small change in eating behavior, physical exercises at least 2 times a week and a slight weight loss reduce half the risk of diabetes in the risk group.
Physical education will help
Given the known risk factors, national programs for the prevention of type 2 diabetes in children have been developed. In them a large role is given to a healthy lifestyle and physical activity. The need for breastfeeding of children and preventing obesity in adults, especially in women of childbearing age. The facts that parents and children need to know about the role of physical activity in the prevention of diabetes:
1. Regular, moderate exercise in fat people reduces the risk of diabetes. Even if physical education does not lead to normalization of their weight.
2. Moderate exercise in diabetics reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, even if patients do not have other risk factors other than diabetes.
3. Regular exercise improves insulin sensitivity.
Important! Simple enough rules will allow parents of complete children to properly organize their lifestyle and thereby significantly reduce the risk of developing their diabetes.
- Respect the appetite of your children, do not force them to eat up to the end every serving of food. Do not offer sweets for the fact that the child ate completely first and second.
- Do not offer children food as a reward for good behavior, good schooling or simply as a way of spending time.
- Encourage children to play sports. The required duration of physical activity per day is 20-60 minutes. Limit the viewing time to 1-2 hours per day.
- Use in the diet more fish, vegetables, fruits. Fats should not be more than 30% of the total daily calorie content. Avoid fast food, foods that contain simple (refined) carbohydrates.
All these activities should be considered as permanent, and not as a temporary nutritional plan for rapid weight loss. Be an example for your children. If you are overweight or you are inactive during the day, then most likely your children are your reflection. Do not let the disease of diabetes on its own accord. When you follow all the recommendations with diabetes, you can live an interesting full life.