The dangers of diabetes in children

November is world diabetes month. This is a disease which is recognised as a “silent killer” by medical practitioners around the globe.

The theme of this years’ awareness from the International Diabetes Federation is “Act Today to Change Tomorrow.”

Diabetes affects everyone, may it be a family member diagnosed with it or a friend or a colleague. Diabetes type 2 is when your body produces insulin but it is not able to use it which can also be known as insulin resistance.

The more your body cannot use the insulin produced it may make your pancreas produce less insulin which is known as insulin deficiency.

Being overweight or obese is a great precursor of type 2 diabetes “It is an issue especially in African countries including South Africa as weight gain can still be seen as a sense of achievement” explains Suna Kassier who is a registered dietician¹. However, up to 80 percent of type 2 diabetes can be prevented through following a healthy eating plan and regular exercise.

According to Sweet Life Magazine, in South Africa an estimated 2,6 million people out of the 6,5 million are diabetic². A percentage of the 2,6 million are children.

It is important that the parents of children diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in school have a plan and schedule for their child’s teachers as this can help their child.

“This can help prevent short and long term medical complications,” explains Linda Siminerio of the American Diabetes Association Safe at School Working Group ³. Diabetes type 1 is when your body cannot produce the insulin hormone. This occurs when your immune system destroys the cells that produce insulin. When you do not have insulin your cells cannot absorb sugar (glucose) that the body uses to produce energy.

If you are unsure whether your child might have diabetes, the following symptoms are good indicators, such as extreme hunger, insatiable thirst, frequent urination, weight loss, fatigue, irritability, and blurred vision, fungal and staphylococcal infections.

After the doctor has made a diagnosis he will prescribe insulin according to the correct type, combination, and dosage. If your child is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes some of the long term complications may include heart and blood vessel disease, nerve damage, kidney failure, eye damage, and recurring skin infections.

It is therefore important to ensure that tests are done routinely on children suffering from diabetes. The doctor will refer the child at the correct intervals to have tests done such as kidney function, blood pressure, growth, regular eye tests, thyroid, liver function and cholesterol tests.

According to Gert Coetzee Co-owner and one of the pharmacists who developed The Diet Everyone Talks About, “The type of food you eat can play a huge role in helping a person reduce their chances of being diagnosed with diabetes.

When you know which carbohydrates are good for you and if you have an insulin resistant body type, it is important to plan your healthy diet programme and exercise routines.”

It is important that people are taught to lead a healthy lifestyle through eating healthily and exercising. Consider starting a diet lifestyle programme that will help you reach your weight goals in a healthy manner. The diet lifestyle programme is guaranteed to lower your weight as well as the risk of diabetes and heart disease.

To find out how you or someone you know can get started on a lifestyle programme such as The Diet Everyone Talks About, visit www.the-diet.co.za for details, or alternatively find them on Facebook: The Diet Everyone Talks About or follow them on twitter @dietsa for daily hints and tips.

You can also give them a call on 016 362 4890 to find out more about this effective lifestyle programme.