Generally, diabetes is often found in the elderly and in people who are overweight, consume a lot of sugar, do not exercise, and have a family history of diabetes. However, these beliefs are only partially correct…. Currently, the incidence of diabetes in children and adolescents is increasing. Epidemiological studies have found that the incidence of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes in populations under 18 years old is rising every year. Type 1 diabetes can be found from preschool age to adolescence, while type 2 diabetes is usually found in children entering adolescence.
Diabetes in children and adolescents causes more problems than expected, including difficulties in controlling blood sugar levels compared to adults and frequent complications as these patients grow into adulthood. Therefore, learning to prevent and treat it properly can significantly reduce these burdens.
The diagnostic criteria for diabetes in children and adolescents are the same as in adults
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- Fasting blood sugar test after 8-12 hours of fasting, with levels exceeding 126 mg/dL on at least 2 occasions
- Blood sugar test 2 hours after ingesting 75 grams of glucose, with levels exceeding 200 mg/dL
- Random blood sugar test without fasting, with levels exceeding 200 mg/dL along with symptoms consistent with diabetes such as frequent urination and excessive thirst
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- Type 1 Diabetes: The body produces antibodies that destroy the beta cells in the pancreas, resulting in insufficient insulin production to lower blood sugar levels. This causes abnormally high blood sugar levels and ketoacidosis, leading to symptoms such as frequent thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, weight loss, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. This type of diabetes is believed to be caused by abnormalities in certain genes that regulate the immune system.
- Type 2 Diabetes: This disease is directly related to increased body weight and obesity. Due to changes in Thai people’s diet and lifestyle, including higher consumption of sugar and fat, reduced exercise, and irregular and insufficient rest, insulin resistance develops, leading to decreased beta cell function.
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Prevention of diabetes in children and adolescents
Although there is currently no way to prevent type 1 diabetes, it can be diagnosed and treated quickly and properly. Type 2 diabetes can be prevented and treated by reducing controllable risk factors, such as maintaining normal weight gain during pregnancy without excessive fluctuations and being cautious about gestational diabetes.
Childcare, diet control by reducing intake of starches, sugar, and fats, emphasizing protein and vegetables-fruits, as well as promoting activities such as exercise, running, and playing sports, can help prevent diabetes in children and adolescents.
Treatment of diabetes in children and adolescents
- Treatment of type 1 diabetes is only by insulin injections, using an appropriate amount of insulin to reduce blood sugar levels to normal ranges, prevent ketoacidosis, and avoid hypoglycemia. Initial treatment is very challenging and requires great patience and effort to learn. However, if the doctor, patient, and caregivers can grasp the treatment principles, it will effectively prevent long-term complications.
- Treatment of type 2 diabetes involves oral medications to lower blood sugar combined with diet control, as well as controlling blood pressure, blood lipids, and body weight within normal ranges. However, in adolescents, adherence to medication and diet control is quite difficult due to significant physical and hormonal changes, which increase insulin resistance and make blood sugar and emotional control more challenging.
Diabetic patients must maintain their blood sugar levels within normal ranges to reduce complications. This requires cooperation among patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals to provide knowledge and highlight the benefits of blood sugar control and the harms of poor control, understand the psychological issues of patients, address obstacles to treatment, and give special attention to this patient group.
