As we mentioned last week, and we had done before, The incidence rates of type 2 diabetes are increasing in children and young people, a disease so far related to adults. Its appearance usually occurs because of bad habits that are also related to overweight and obesity.
We explained very briefly what it is, but today I would like to pause the symptoms a little, because I think that this type of enlargement can be useful to know the disease.
As you know, diabetes is related to the use of glucose by the body, this nutrient is considered as the greatest source of energy, and comes - as is logical - from ingested food. When the glucose level rises in the blood (after eating), the pancreas secretes insulin and pours it into the blood, a process that does not occur in diabetic people, and that is what we know as insulin resistance.
What happens to insulin in the bloodstream? Because it is so important that allows cells to access glucose, so that blood glucose levels increase scandalously, and at the same time the energy function to which it is associated is hindered.
As we have clarified on occasion, type two diabetes (a few years ago it was known as non-insulin dependent diabetes) does not preclude the production of insulin, but the body of the affected person does not respond to her as expected. So glucose still has no capacity to reach inside the cells.
Sometimes it also happens that the pancreas is depleted, and even seriously resents, because it produces incessantly insulin, which also does not fulfill its mission
To prevent type two diabetes, a change in eating habits and physical activity needs to be proposed. Both factors are difficult to change in practice (and according to our daily pace of life). Because eating healthy sometimes means spending time in the kitchen, and even if it's rewarding, we don't always have time, so insane foods are readily available for price and availability; or to processed, with little - or very little fiber -.
And when it comes to physical exercise: children drive to school, and return by car, there are those who hardly walk, and if we think that two or three hours a week of physical exercise are enough, I have to say no , of course.
How to know if a child has type 2 diabetes?
As expected, high blood glucose levels should be suspected, but normally parents do not dedicate themselves to measuring these levels in children who are apparently healthy (and the concept of health here should be nuanced a lot).
That is why at Kids Health (at the bottom of the link) they give us a hand, and warn us that “the symptoms of type 2 diabetes may take time to develop (that is, the disease may exist asymptomatically temporarily), and they are not always obvious".
But yes, all people who develop insulin resistance, or type 2 diabetes, show these warning signs:
Urinate frequently (excess glucose is eliminated while you can in the urine) and abundantly.
Consume lots of fluids, to compensate for the loss in the urine.
Tiredness, because glucose is not transformed into energy.
If we had doubts, we should go to the pediatrician as soon as possible, who probably after performing some tests, will refer us to an endocrine
In addition, sometimes thickened and dark skin is observed around the neck, or in the armpits, toes, elbows and knees, it is what is known as acanthosis nigricans.
A disease with many risks
That is not to say: you have diabetes, we are being treated. That of course, you should follow the guidelines of the specialist. But it is that when acquiring diabetes, you run the risk of developing hypertension, abnormal blood fat levels; and girls could have problems with their menstruation during adolescence, due to polycystic ovaries; In addition to that excessive hair growth is frequent.
Living with diabetes is a challenge, and you should not save on efforts to try to normalize the lives of the sick. But at the same time you should control your weight, blood sugar levels, and receive insulin.
Healthy habits also serve to improve the quality of life, because exercise helps the body respond to insulin, and also burns calories. A healthy diet rich in fiber will also control a possible excess of glucose.
In any case we cannot play it, and as I have indicated above, in the face of suspicion se must act to not aggravate complications of the illness.
