Can Diabetes Affect Children?

Diabetes, the disease that was once considered to affect only adults, has now been preying on children as well. It is estimated that India is home to nearly 97,700 children with type 1 diabetes, and pediatric diabetes constitutes nearly  1%–4% of the total diabetes population in India[1].  Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial in order to improve the health of children suffering from diabetes. 

Causes And Symptoms Of Pediatric Diabetes

Causes of type 1 diabetes are still to be found by experts. However, the reason is considered to be the immune system of the patient mistakenly destroying the islet cells (insulin-producing cells) in the pancreas. The child’s genetics and environmental factors appear to play a major role in this destruction process [2].  Being overweight is considered to be one of the major causes of diabetes type 2 in children, as being overweight increases the likelihood of insulin resistance which in turn spikes up the levels of blood glucose leading to diabetes and other serious health problems [3].

Symptoms of the disease in children include the following: 

• Increased thirst
• Frequent urination
• Extreme hunger
• Unintentional weight loss
• Fatigue
• Irritability or behavioural changes
• Fruity-smelling breath
• Blurry vision
• Darkened areas of skin

Complications Associated With Childhood Diabetes [5]

Type 1 diabetes in children can have a major negative impact on their organs. Some of the complications include the following[5]:  

Heart And Blood Vessel Disease: Type 1 diabetes can increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart diseases and strokes in children. The condition also increases the risks of narrowed blood vessels. 

Nerve Damage: Excessive blood sugar can exert extreme pressure on the blood vessels that nourish the child’s nerves that causes tingling, numbness, burning or pain. Nerve damage happens gradually.

Kidney Damage: Type 1 diabetes can damage the kidney and make it difficult for the body to filter waste, which can lead to other serious health issues. 

Eye Damage: The retina in the eyes can be damaged by high blood sugar levels due to diabetes, and can lead to vision errors and problems.  

Osteoporosis: Childhood diabetes may lower the bone mineral density in children and increase the risks of them developing osteoporosis in the future. 

Complications associated with type 2 diabetes in children include the following [7]: 

High Blood Pressure: With time, the high blood sugar levels cause the walls of the blood vessels to stiffen and increase pressure on the walls of blood vessels, making them more susceptible to conditions such as blood high blood pressure, later in life. 

High Cholesterol: Studies have found diabetes to be associated with high cholesterol synthesis and with the elevation of serum and lipoprotein triglyceride levels [8]. 

Stroke: Too much sugar in the blood can lead to strokes in children as the increased blood sugar levels can damage the blood vessels that are responsible to take blood to the brain.

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Diabetes and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease often exist together in both children and adults. 

Can Diabetes Be Prevented In Children? [6]

Diabetes type one cannot be prevented as the cause of the condition is not completely known. On the other hand, type 2 diabetes can sometimes be prevented with certain lifestyle changes such as maintaining a healthy diet, managing weight and exercising regularly. 

Parents worried about their children being affected by diabetes can take the following measures to lower the risks of the condition: 

Healthy Diet: Ensuring that the child’s diet is well balanced and rich in all the essential nutrients is extremely important in lowering their risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Foods such as whole-grain cereals and bread, fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and lean proteins can help prevent excessive weight gain, a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes must be included in the diet.

Limit Sugary And Processed Foods: The consumption of excessive sugary and processed foods such as sodas and packaged food can increase the risk of weight gain that can contribute to the development of diabetes in children.

Regular Exercise: Exercising regularly and staying physically active can help manage a healthy weight and reduce the risks of developing diabetes in children.

The Takeaway

Not too long ago, diabetes was considered a health condition that affected only adults, but now, young children and teenagers too are prone to the condition. Both diabetes type 1 and type 2 can affect children. However, the risks of both the conditions can be lowered by maintaining a healthy diet, managing weight and exercising regularly. 

References Link: 

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4413385/#:~:text=It%20is%20estimated%20that%20India,at%20diagnosis%20was%2012%20years.
2. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-1-diabetes-in-children/symptoms-causes/syc-20355306#:~:text=Diabetes%20increases%20your%20child%27s%20risk,that%20nourish%20your%20child%27s%20nerves
3. https://www.healthline.com/health/type-2-diabetes-children#causes
4. https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/prevention.html
5. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-1-diabetes-in-children/symptoms-causes/syc-20355306#:~:text=Diabetes%20increases%20your%20child%27s%20risk,that%20nourish%20your%20child%27s%20nerves
6. https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/prevention.html
7. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-2-diabetes-in-children/symptoms-causes/syc-20355318
8. https://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/25/9/1511#:~:text=In%20the%20present%20study%2C%20diabetes,taken%20up%20by%20the%20liver.