What are the types of Diabetes in childhood?

Childhood Diabetes is of 2 types. Type 1 is insulin dependent and type 2 is due to defective insulin action.

Why my child?

It is unfortunate it is your child. The cause of diabetes is not fully understood. Diabetes is most often associated with a genetically determined predisposition, the presence of autoimmunity and environmental influence.

Is Insulin a must?

Yes. Insulin is a must for Type 1 diabetes as their body is deficient of insulin. If insulin is not given the child can progress to diabetic coma.

When my child should start injecting?

Insulin treatment should be started as soon as the diagnosis is done to prevent the metabolic disturbances and diabetic coma. From around the age of 8 years your child is expected to inject him- or her-self.

What special monitoring is required?

Self -monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) with a glucometer is an essential tool in the management of childhood diabetes. This will help in good monitoring of blood sugar, detects hypoglycaemia (low sugar), and helps in safe management of hyperglycaemia.

What to do in the school?

School is not at all a problem. They should be treated as a normal child but care to be taken about meal and snack timings and education about recognition and treatment of hypoglycaemia to the teachers and caretakers should be given.

What about parties?

Children should not be restricted from parties, but too much is too bad. Occasional parties are allowed but take care to inform the host about diabetic child and make arrangements for diabetic sweets.

What about marriage?

Diabetic patients can get married as any other individual.

Will it be all right for her to become pregnant?

Pregnancy is not contraindicated to diabetic patients. Care should be taken regarding good glucose control of the mother and close monitoring of baby’s growth through out pregnancy

Will she pass on diabetes to the baby?

When a member of the family has diabetes there is a risk to relatives of developing the disease. And it is as follows

-risk to child of a father with type 1 diabetes –7%

-risk to child of a mother with type 1 diabetes- 2%

-risk to identical twin of a child with type 1 diabetes- 35%

-risk to sibling of a child with type 1 diabetes- 3-6%