Children with diabetes are becoming a major problem in this country and around the world. This childhood epidemic is growing. More children are overweight. According to the American Diabetes Association over 80% of children and adolescents that are getting the diabetes disease are overweight.
What is the concern?
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.
Type 2 diabetes in children is one of the most challenging experiences for both the child with this chronic condition, as well as the parents and family. This form of diabetes is more commonly associated with adults but now is on the increase in children, fueled mainly by the obesity crisis.
The disease is still not fully understood by the medical world, and ongoing studies are being done in order to find more clues towards better treatment.