Learn how talking to your children about diabetes can be beneficial.
The number of diabetes in children is growing and many of these youth are experiencing complications that are even faster than what adult’s experience. Not to mention the increasing number of diabetes in children which has grown astronomically in the last 28 years from nearly no cases of teenage diabetes or diabetes in children.
Nearly one-third of the United States has diabetes or prediabetes and an unfortunate sign of childhood diabetes is being overweight or obese. Since the 1970’s the number of obese school-aged children has tripled, just as the number of diabetes in children.
Continue reading to learn about signs of diabetes in children and teenage diabetes and how to talk to teenagers about diabetes.
Straight talk: How to talk to teenagers with diabetes
Sending the right message to children about diabetes is important. Speaking to your child, or teenager in an age-appropriate way is one of the most important parts of having a mutual understanding of the diagnosis.
Children, or teenagers, may feel as though they’ve done something wrong or caused the disease and the job of an adult is to make the child understand that this isn’t the case. Adolescents may have many questions about diabetes and allowing them to ask their questions is also important. Together, parents and children.
Teenagers have it a bit more difficult than children because during the teenage years there is a lot of changing going on as well as peer pressure. Teenage diabetes can be difficult on a child because they may feel like they need to make certain decisions that are not beneficial to their health, in order to fit in.
Children with diabetes can also be hard on them because there is a lot of responsibility to take on. Not only do they need to know about signs of diabetes in kids but also about certain diet restrictions and medications.
This is something that can work to a parent’s advantage as children become more independent and by allowing children to take responsibility for their own self-care. Children should be praised often for wanting to make correct decisions for themselves and understanding should be shown when there are setbacks or difficult times.
Click here to learn how if type 2 diabetes can turn into type 1
Signs of Diabetes in Children
Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes affect children and their use of insulin. Here are some signs of childhood diabetes both with type 1 and type 2.
Signs and Symptoms for Type 1 Diabetes:
- Blurry vision
- Fruity smell on breath
- Irritability
- Tiredness
- Weight loss
- Hunger
- Increased thirst and urination
Signs and Symptoms for Type 2 Diabetes
- Frequent urination
- Increased thirst
- Fatigue
- Unexplained weight loss
- Itching in the genital area
- Yeast infections
- Slow healing wounds
- Blurry vision
- Dark velvety patches on the skin
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome
Treatment for Diabetes in Children
Adolescents with aggressive type 2 diabetes that are overweight are often urged to undergo bariatric surgery because afterword it is not only easier to control blood sugar levels but also they showed an improvement in kidney function and a lower risk of cardiovascular disease.
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This specific plan isn’t a treatment for signs of diabetes in kids but it is a step forward. Other than medical procedures treatment for childhood diabetes, depending on type 1 or type 2 diabetes may involve lifelong insulin use and blood sugar monitoring.
No matter the type of diabetes, children nearly into adulthood will need to manage both diet and exercise to ensure that no complications arise. Although diabetes in kids is a difficult diagnosis to hear, it can be treated and children can learn to live a healthy lifestyle with diabetes.