Beware of type 1 diabetes in children

This is an automatically translated article.


The percentage of children in Vietnam with diabetes tends to increase and is difficult to treat. Diabetes in children is usually type 1, accounting for about 90% of children with diabetes. The condition is usually genetic, insulin-synthesizing, or insulin-producing disorders, and is congenital in nature.

1. Manifestations of diabetes in children


Diabetes is a carbohydrate metabolism disorder characterized by chronically elevated blood sugar levels due to decreased insulin secretion or insulin function, or both.
Childhood diabetes is often associated with genetic factors and autoimmune inflammation islets of Langerhans of the pancreas, common in 10-14 years old. Diabetes in children is insulin dependent (type 1). Insulin injection therapy is necessary to keep the child alive.
The most common childhood diabetes symptom is sudden and acute onset with polyuria, polydipsia, and metabolic acidosis. The remaining children have diabetes with gradual onset with 4 typical symptoms: peeing a lot, drinking a lot, eating a lot, being thin, losing weight, and tired. If detected late, the child may have symptoms of vision loss or growth retardation, delayed puberty.
Children with diabetes may show 1 or 2 of the 4 typical signs above and in some cases the child has no symptoms at all. Besides, because diabetes is rare in children, it is easy to be confused with some other common diseases that also have some similar symptoms.
Therefore, parents need to pay attention to these symptoms to take their children to the doctor and get treatment in time. Some common symptoms are:
Thirst: Children with diabetes often drink more water than usual and do not feel thirsty. Fatigue: Children often feel tired and this often lasts. Weight loss: Children may lose weight rapidly for no apparent reason. Frequent urination: Older children often use the toilet, while younger children often wet the bed. Newborns may find diapers heavier than usual. Stomachache. Headache. Behaving unusually. Watch now: Children can also get diabetes

2. How is diabetes diagnosed in children?


The diagnosis of diabetes in children as well as in adults is based on tests that evaluate blood sugar. Do blood sugar test at least 2 times or more with blood sugar standards:
Fasting glucose ≥ 7.0 mmol/l HbA1C >7%/ Electrolytes may be normal or changed. Blood gases change when the child has a metabolic acid-base disorder. Test glucose tolerance with a total dose of not more than 75g of glucose. Breastfeeding children: 1-1.5g/kg Older children: 1.75g/kg Give children the amount of glucose according to their weight mixed with 250ml of normal water, drink for 5 minutes. Then do a blood sugar test after drinking 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 120 minutes.
Look for antibodies against pancreatic cells: ICA, GAD, IAA Urine test (+), urinary ketones can be (+) or (-).
tiểu đường trẻ em
Trẻ thường xuyên cảm thấy mệt mỏi khi mắc tiểu đường trẻ em

3. How is diabetes in children treated?

3.1. Drug treatment


Use animal insulin (swine or cow) or human insulin (Human insulin).
Dosage is as follows:
Children: 0.2-0.8 units/kg/day Prepubertal: 0.8-1 units/kg/day Puberty: 1.2-1.5 units/kg/day How to use the injections Insulin during the day:
Inject 2 injections/day with a combination of regular insulin and semi-slow insulin injected before breakfast and in the evening. In some special cases, 3 injections/day may be required. The morning dose will be = 2/3 of the total dose for the day. The afternoon dose will be 1/3 of the total dose for the day. Normal insulin rate is 1/3 and slow insulin is 2/3 per injection.

3.2. Diet


To ensure the development of children, parents should not give children the same diet as adults.
Carbohydrates account for 55-60% of calories in the day. Protein 12-20% of calories for the day. Lipids <30% of calories per day.
tiểu đường trẻ em
Chế độ ăn cần đảm bảo dinh dưỡng khi bé mắc tiểu đường trẻ em

3.3. Monitoring diabetes treatment in children


In the first year, parents need to take their children to a doctor every 3 months and have their blood sugar tested 4 samples a day. From 2 to 5 years, children should be examined periodically every 3-6 months, checked blood sugar 4 times a day, periodically checked HbA1C, blood cholesterol. After 5 years of treatment, take the child to a doctor every 6 months, check blood sugar 4 times a day, periodically check other indicators such as HbA1C, cholesterol, triglycerides, urea, creatinine, microalbuminuria, in addition. Optometry and ophthalmoscopy are required. Parents need to check their children's blood sugar and urine by themselves when they have signs of increased urination or feel tired. Weekly blood sugar test 4 samples/time on weekends.
Watch now: Caring for children with diabetes at schools and kindergartens

4. Prevention of diabetes in children


To prevent diabetes in children, you need to build a reasonable diet for children as follows:
Limit sweets, foods high in fat such as: Fast foods, fried foods , egg yolks, fatty meat, viscera of animals,... Enhance green vegetables, fiber, fruits, protein for children. Encourage children to be active, participate in fun activities, practice outdoor sports such as jogging, soccer, volleyball, basketball... Diabetes can be encountered in children and causes dangerous complications, requiring the whole family's efforts in treatment. Therefore, when detecting that a child shows signs of illness, parents need to take the child to medical centers for timely examination and treatment.
With many years of experience in examining and treating diseases in children, now the Pediatrics Department at Vinmec International General Hospital has become one of the major health care centers, capable of examining , screening and treatment of many specialized diseases in children. Therefore, if a child shows signs of type 1 diabetes, parents can take the child to Vinmec International General Hospital for examination and receive support and advice from doctors and nutritionists. .

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.

This article is written for readers from Sài Gòn, Hà Nội, Hồ Chí Minh, Phú Quốc, Nha Trang, Hạ Long, Hải Phòng, Đà Nẵng.

17 reads

Relating articles
  • Tiểu đường làm mờ mắt
    5 ways diabetes can affect your eyes and vision

    Khi lượng đường trong máu không được kiểm soát tốt có thể dẫn đến một số hệ luỵ cho sức khỏe. Trong nhiều trường hợp, lượng đường huyết cao có ảnh hưởng nghiêm trọng đến thị lực và gây ra ...

    Readmore
  • Nguyên nhân và ảnh hưởng của kháng insulin ở người tiểu đường
    Causes and effects of insulin resistance in diabetics

    Kháng insulin là tình trạng tế bào tổ chức của cơ thể cần một lượng insulin cao hơn bình thường, Tổ chức Y tế Thế giới đã quy định, bệnh nhân tiểu đường có tình trạng kháng insulin là khi ...

    Readmore
  • Tiểu đường ở trẻ
    Children can also get diabetes

    Nhiều người cho rằng bệnh tiểu đường chỉ có thể xảy ra ở người lớn tuổi, tuy nhiên trẻ em cũng có nguy cơ cao bị tiểu đường. Đái tháo đường trẻ em ảnh hưởng rất lớn đến sức khỏe ...

    Readmore
  • tiểu đường type 2
    Purpose of treatment for type 2 diabetes

    Bệnh tiểu đường tuýp 2 là căn bệnh khá phổ biến ở Việt Nam. Bệnh tiểu đường (đái tháo đường) là một rối loạn mãn tính, gồm những đặc tính tăng glucose máu, rối loạn chuyển hóa và các biến ...

    Readmore
  • bút tiêm insulin
    What is the dose of mixed insulin injection?

    Hi doctor! When I went to the doctor, the doctor gave me a prescription for Wosulin 30/70, 100IU/ml 3ml (mixed insulin) and a Wosulin 30/70 Dispo Pen for injection. So doctor, let me ask, what is the dosage on the ...

    Readmore