Our bodies depend on glucose for energy. In order for the body to utilize the glucose, the cells of the body have to extract it from the blood. To do this they need a hormone known as insulin. Insulin is produced in the pancreas. If the pancreas does not produce sufficient insulin or if the cells of the body do not respond correctly to the insulin that is produced the level of glucose in the blood will increase because the glucose is not being absorbed by the body’s cells. The result is a disease called diabetes mellitus or more commonly diabetes.

The normal glucose level in the blood is from 65 to 120 milligrams per deciliter or (mg/dL). Under normal circumstances this balance is maintained in spite of a surge of sugar following eating a meal or snack or a few hours without sugar when one doesn’t eat, for example, at night while sleeping. However, when insulin is not produced or utilized normally, the balance is disrupted and glucose levels either rise too high or fall too low. There are three types of diabetes mellitus: Type 1, Type 2 and gestational diabetes.

The form of diabetes that is common to children is Type 1 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes usually affects adults over forty years of age although it can develop in children and this is now happening more often than in the past. Gestational diabetes is restricted to pregnant women. Type 1 diabetes is classified as an auto-immune disease. Because the immune system attacks the insulin producing cells of the pancreas, the body has less insulin available than is required. Type 1 may be genetic or it can be the result of a virus. Scientists are not sure about this. Both boys and girls are equally susceptible to Type 1 diabetes.

Scientists also do not understand why Type 2 diabetes is suddenly starting to affect children. However, they believe that this may be due to overweight and inactivity. Symptoms of diabetes in children include excessive thirst and urination, weight loss or failure to gain weight, fatigue and large appetite. Since treatment can be a lifetime procedure, it is important that parents and children work together to manage the diabetes. The child must learn the importance of checking and maintaining proper blood sugar levels. If insulin injections are required, the child must learn how to do this and must know the schedule for the injections.

Maintaining a proper diet is extremely important and this may be difficult with children. Parents can control what the child eats at home but away from home and in school is a different matter. Most young children are fond of sugar snacks such as candy and these need to be avoided. However, diabetic children can have sugarless candy. Diabetic children also need to eat on a regular schedule of meals interspersed with healthy snacks. In addition, they must follow a regular exercise program. Teachers and school administrators should always be advised if a child is diabetic and they need to be informed of medication schedules and diet.

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