Diabetes

A Guide To Different Types Of Diabetes In Children

Diabetes is a condition that affects the body's ability to produce or make use of insulin properly. It results in an increase in blood sugar level which can lead to several medical complications in both adults and children.

The various types of this disease observed in children are as follows:

Type I - Insulin Dependent Or Juvenile Diabetes

Type I is supposed to be the most common cause among children diagnosed with high blood sugar. It is an autoimmune disease in which the patient's immune system produces antibodies that destroy various cells in the body, including the insulin producing cells in the pancreas. Since the beta cells in the pancreas are damaged beyond repair, they are no longer able to produce insulin which is necessary to help glucose enter the body cells. Due to this, there is an increase of sugar level in the blood. Children with this type of illness are required to take insulin injections on daily basis.

It is widely believed by doctors that the abnormal response of the body in Type I is triggered by inherited genetic material. Children affected by Type I should be very careful as they are predisposed to contracting other illnesses easily.

Type II - Insulin Resistant

It is also known as non-insulin dependent or adult-onset diabetes. In children suffering from this type of illness, the pancreas produces more and more insulin but the body cells are not able to respond to them properly. Gradually, the pancreas is no longer able to produce enough insulin to control the rising blood sugar level. This type of illness starts acting in the muscle cells and fat cells and gradually affects the liver too. In addition to genetic factors, obesity is the most important risk factor in Type II illness. It is possible for children suffering from insulin resistant ailment to manage their blood sugar level through proper diet, exercise and medication without requiring to take insulin injections.

Hybrid Or Mixed Type

Patients with this type of disease show symptoms of both Type 1 and Type 2. Children suffering from hybrid or mixed blood sugar illness suffer from insulin resistance in addition to producing antibodies that destroy beta cells. They are usually obese too.

Maturity - Onset Diabetes Of The Young

Observed rarely, this type of illness, which generally occurs before the age of 25, interferes with insulin production in the body. It is believed to be caused by genetic defects.

Children with cystic fibroses are also susceptible to develop secondary diabetes. With changing eating habits, lack of proper exercise and greater body weight, more and more children are getting affected by this disease. A better lifestyle can help prevent the occurrence of diabetes in children.