Some people may not believe it, but even infants can suffer from the metabolic disease diabetes. There is type I and then type II diabetes. Type II can usually be controlled with a healthier lifestyle. In type I, the injection of insulin in certain doses is usually the only option.
Further information worth knowing about diabetes in general and especially in infancy
It should be known that diabetes is a metabolic disease that is extremely common in children . The disease makes no difference between origin (country or region) and age, as well as the severity of the disease. This is a serious condition that definitely needs medical attention . Attention must be paid to a clear structure in the child's daily routine, as well as to appropriate nutrition and treatment. Otherwise, the child can live with it quite normally, although it will be accompanied by the disease throughout its life. However, due to the high incidence of the disease, research is constantly being carried out, so that there are always new findings and new treatment methods. One result of this research is insulin pumps, which individually measure the blood sugar level independently and then supply insulin to the body according to these values. Red flags parents should look out for are; the child gains weight quickly or loses weight quickly with normal food intake, the child or baby is constantly thirsty (above-average drinking quantities), the diapers are often very wet and very heavy, a possible glucose test (blood or urine) is positive. If these signs appear in the baby, then you should definitely take a closer look here outside of the follow-up appointments. Especially if there is already diabetes in the family, but this does not necessarily include adult-onset diabetes, which tends to occur in older people. Even in the womb, a baby can be diagnosed with diabetes, namely if the child grows faster than normal and weighs more than 4.5 kg at birth without the mother having diabetes. If these suspicions are already present at birth, the parents should definitely attach importance to an extended newborn screening. Unrecognized diabetes can cause serious physical harm and disability, so it's better to be over-cautious than over-indulgent. In any case, diabetes can be treated well at any age these days, and babies and children can live well with it. Parents are often amazed at how quickly their child learns to deal with their impairment. Even small children learn incredibly quickly to inject themselves with the vital doses of insulin and they quickly manage to measure their blood sugar independently. These children also know exactly what they are allowed to eat and what not and what is possibly allowed in limited quantities. In order to have as much exchange as possible and to be up to date on new therapies, it is advisable for parents to join a self-help group or other institution that deals with childhood diabetes. Here you can benefit from the experiences of others and the child learns in this way right from the start that it is not alone with its illness. Just like the child, the parents and all caregivers must be trained in dealing with diabetes. Everyone must be able to both measure and correctly interpret the blood sugar level and take the appropriate measures (insulin injection or call an ambulance).
