Type 1 diabetes in a child

June 30 2022

Type 1 diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases in children and adolescents. It is an autoimmune disease in which the body's autoimmune processes stop the pancreatic (beta) cells from producing insulin. Because of this, the body is unable to control the blood sugar level. Insulin is called the hormone of life, which is essential for human functioning, as well as food. Therefore, treatment with externally absorbed insulin in type 1 diabetes mellitus in children is absolutely necessary and begins almost immediately from the moment the disease is diagnosed. 

Diagnosis type 1 diabetes in a child, especially for parents, it is a moment they will surely remember for the rest of their lives. Especially at the very beginning of the disease, when they are accompanied by fear and ask themselves a lot of questions: why did this disease occur? What is its treatment? What will my life be like? a child with type 1 diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes in a child

From the moment of diagnosis type 1 diabetes at your child you must take matters into your own hands and assume the role of a failed pancreas. For insulin to work, it must be administered externally, under the skin. A child with type 1 diabetes insulin can be administered:

  •  with the use of injections with specially prepared injectors (pens)
  • or using an insulin pump (nowadays much more often).

Type 1 diabetes in children it can develop at any age, including in an infant or toddler. Unfortunately, more and more often this kind diabetes get sick getting younger dzieci. Type 1 diabetes, if not diagnosed early, can even be life-threatening.

Currently, about 1 people in Poland suffer from type 205 diabetes, and about 000 of them are children and adolescents. It is disturbing that the incidence of this disease has increased fourfold in the last 20 years. Despite the continuous progress and development of medicine, the problem of type 000 diabetes in children is still relevant, and even growing in strength.

Type 1 diabetes in a child: what's next?

Joanna Płoska

Diabetes educator, Certified personal insulin pump trainer, Diabetes nurse at the Diabetes Clinic, Institute of Mother and Child

The expert advises:

You need to know that diagnosing type 1 diabetes in a child nowadays is not a verdict. Current treatments significantly delay the onset of late complications and minimize the risk of early complications such as hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and ketoacidosis. The enormous progress in the treatment of type 1 diabetes has meant that children with type 1 diabetes can enjoy a life that is just as colorful, full of challenges and opportunities, as well as healthy people. The comfort of their lives has changed dramatically since the development of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems, which continuously measure the sugar level in the subcutaneous tissue fluid, so that the child does not have to stick a finger as often to measure this level in the blood. 

Parents of children with type 1 diabetes no longer have to tremble with fear for their child in school or kindergarten. Thanks to the development of technology, they can also monitor the current level of sugar that their child has on their phone on an ongoing basis. This is certainly a great comfort in the case of young children with type 1 diabetes. However, you must remember to "cut off the umbilical cord" at the right time and let the child control type 1 diabetes himself.

The causes of type 1 diabetes in children

If your child has recently been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, you are wondering why? Could I have done anything to prevent it from happening? Both play a major role in the development of type 1 diabetes in children genetic factors as well as environmental factors. 

Environmental and genetic factors

They can intensify the already existing process of beta-cell destruction or initiate it. There are genes known that increase the risk of developing diabetes and those that protect against it. Despite this, even in identical twins (with identical genes) the risk of developing type 1 diabetes in the other twin is 65-90%. So the conclusion is that Type 1 diabetes in children is caused not only by genes.

The risk of developing type 1 diabetes in a child and other autoimmune diseases are much more severe if his mom, dad, or siblings have diabetes or other immune-related illnesses. The group of autoimmune diseases also includes: 

  • Hashimoto's disease (hypothyroidism);
  • Graves' disease (hyperthyroidism);
  • celiac disease, RA (rheumatoid arthritis);
  • lupus;
  • multiple sclerosis;
  • albinism and others.
Viral infections

For development type 1 diabetes in children can contribute viral infections also happen. Viruses can act either by indirectly stimulating the immune system or by directly damaging beta cells.

According to the so-called acceleration theory There are certain factors (genes, weight gain) that may make the insulin-producing beta cells work excessively and thus increase the risk of developing diabetes.

Hygiene and the immune system

Do Paradoxical as it may seem, the development of type 1 diabetes mellitus can also contribute to too much hygiene.

A high level of hygiene reduces the exposure of the immune system to bacterial infections, and as a result, instead of defending the body against bacteria, it becomes more sensitive to various stimuli, which increases the risk of autoimmunity.

Eating mistakes

One of the many reasons for the emergence of type 1 diabetes in children may also be dietary mistakes, such as eating large amounts of processed foods, early feeding with cow's milk, gluten and toxic substances (N-nitroso compounds).

Vitamin D3 deficiency

In addition, vitamin D1 deficiency may also be the cause of type 3 diabetes in children. According to epidemiological studies, the incidence of type 1 diabetes is much lower in countries where the sun exposure during the year is much greater, i.e. vitamin D deficiencies are less frequent there.

Diabetes during pregnancy 

Greater predisposition to development type diabetes 1 is also noted in dzieci women who develop gestational diabetes.

Stress

Cause speeches type 1 diabetes u child there may also be stress. Stress can also cause the disease to show up more quickly.

Type 1 diabetes and sweets

The cause of type 1 diabetes in children is certainly not to eat too much sugar. Children get this type of diabetes when their body stops producing insulin, but it is not because they are over-eating sweets. Saying: do not eat sweets because you will develop diabetes " in the case of type 1 diabetes in children, it can therefore be put in "between fairy tales".

Joanna Płoska

Diabetes educator, Certified personal insulin pump trainer, Diabetes nurse at the Diabetes Clinic, Institute of Mother and Child

The expert advises:

Sweets are not responsible for the development of type 1 diabetes in your child. However, it is completely different in the case of type 2 diabetes, in which it is the consumption of too much sugar (or foods containing sugar, e.g. candies, gummies, sweet carbonated drinks) can lead to weight gain, and thus excessive weight gain can cause type 2 diabetes. However, it is a completely different type of diabetes and has a completely different course of the disease. 

Causes and the possibility of developing type 1 diabetes

As you can see, there are many causes of type 1 diabetes. There are many potential factors that may have made your child sick. However, there is no one main reason why it happened.

It is important to know that neither you nor your child develops type 1 diabetes through their own fault or the fault of their loved ones. Just like that, it was supposed to be. There was no way you could have prevented your baby from having this disease. A number of factors mentioned above could have been the cause of its occurrence. Don't worry, type 1 diabetes is a disease that nowadays properly treated from an early age does not bring any undesirable consequences in the future.

Type 1 diabetes in children: symptoms

Symptoms of type 1 diabetes in a child appear when about 90% of the pancreatic beta cells are destroyed (i.e. these cells are almost completely destroyed).

Typically, the symptoms of type 1 diabetes develop rapidly and rapidly. The younger the child, the faster the symptoms of type 1 diabetes develop.

The typical symptoms of type 1 diabetes in children include:
  • increased thirst as well passing large amounts of urine frequentlyalso at night. If your child suddenly wakes up at night and goes to the toilet every day and drinks countless drinks, that should make you alert right away. This is one of the main symptoms of newly developing type 1 diabetes;
  • unreasonable weight loss. If suddenly your child drinks a lot, urinates frequently and loses weight (without making any changes to the diet or eating habits), this may also indicate type 1 diabetes. Children with type 1 diabetes often have, even noticed by their parents, eat more and eat more, and still lose weight. In this case, however, it does not mean anything good and could be one of the many symptoms of type 1 diabetes in your child;
  • not very fresh breath with the smell of acetone, reminiscent of rotten apples is also one of the many symptoms of type 1 diabetes in children. If you feel a similar breath from your child's mouth, check for the other symptoms of type 1 diabetes listed here;
  • weakness and increased sleepiness. Does your child suddenly stop wanting to play that he used to enjoy, neglect his school responsibilities, worsen his grades at school, and sleep most of his time outside of school? This may or may not be a herald of type 1 diabetes;
  • dry and rough skinwhich is the effect of dehydration;
  • contractions in the legs;
  • deterioration of visual acuity;
  • bites in the corners of the mouth, fungal lesions on the genitourinary organs, recurrent infections;
  • learning difficulties, concentration problems or irritability (problems at school, kindergarten).

Ketoacidosis

If the symptoms of type 1 diabetes in a child listed above and a lack of insulin in the body for a long time, the development of ketoacidosis occurs, the symptoms of which include:

  • increasing weakness and drowsiness;
  • stomach pain, nausea and vomiting;
  • rapid and deep breathing;
  • disturbances of consciousness;
  • diabetic coma.
Joanna Płoska

Diabetes educator, Certified personal insulin pump trainer, Diabetes nurse at the Diabetes Clinic, Institute of Mother and Child

The expert advises:

Ketoacidosis is a condition that threatens the health and even life of a child, so a child suspected of ketoacidosis should be transported to hospital as soon as possible, because its condition can deteriorate very quickly. It is important that you watch your baby carefully and always be alert to any changes in his or her behavior. Not only for diabetes, but also for other diseases that may develop in childhood. Remember that problems with learning or at school may not always be caused by a teenager's rebellion, but may also be a symptom of an illness. 

Early diagnosis of type 1 diabetes

The symptoms of type 1 diabetes in a child usually occur with such intensity that it is very difficult to overlook them. If the symptoms of type 1 diabetes mentioned above appear in your child, do not delay the visit to the doctor.

Early diagnosis of type 1 diabetes and its appropriate treatment will not allow diabetes to cause irreversible damage to your child's body.

Type 1 diabetes is, unfortunately, an incurable disease at the moment. However, that doesn't mean it will never be cured. Research in this direction is ongoing, and the advancement of medicine is so enormous that there is a chance that we will see the time when this disease can be cured.

Self-monitoring in type 1 diabetes

The current methods of treating type 1 diabetes in children have significantly improved the quality of life for both children with diabetes and their parents. Remember to educate your child with type 1 diabetes to self-management of the disease from an early age. If your baby is small, you will have to do most of the "diabetic" tasks alone with the baby. However, over time, the more your baby understands and becomes more independent, and you must gradually become more independent about diabetes. Even a child in kindergarten can learn the basic things related to diabetes, while of course still under your control.

Joanna Płoska

Diabetes educator, Certified personal insulin pump trainer, Diabetes nurse at the Diabetes Clinic, Institute of Mother and Child

The expert advises:

If you have concerns about how to prepare your child for independent life with type 1 diabetes, tell your diabetes doctor or nurse. In some cases, training with a diabetes educator or nutritionist may be helpful. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Sometimes a child will understand a "stranger" better than the closest one who wants the best for him.

Child's independence in type 1 diabetes

Remember that your child, despite type 1 diabetes, can do everything that his peers do. Of course, for some things, you have to prepare it yourself in advance, but do not introduce any prohibitions related to diabetes. The justification as to why he cannot do certain things "because he has diabetes" should not be the case. A child with type 1 diabetes should in no way feel that this disease interferes with something and limits him, because over time, he may begin to rebel.

A child with type 1 diabetes can do whatever a healthy child can under proper control.

Remember not to overhaul a child with type 1 diabetes in their duties, because they have diabetes. A child with type 1 diabetes may start to use this behavior of a parent over time and treat diabetes as a "bargaining chip", justifying all its failures or even laziness with diabetes. Your main task as a parent is that your child learns to live "in harmony" with type 1 diabetes and that this disease is no obstacle for him in the realization of his dreams and life plans.  It is certainly not a simple task for a parent, but it is possible.

Author

Joanna Płoska

Diabetes educator, Certified personal insulin pump trainer, Diabetes nurse at the Diabetes Clinic, Institute of Mother and Child

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