Diabetes in Kids
Children, particularly those belonging to the primary age group can be highly vulnerable to the disease which is known as diabetes. Diabetes is basically a disorder whereby the metabolism of a person is affected by unnaturally high levels of blood sugar. Children tend to be as susceptible to diabetes as adults do for both hereditary as well as environmental reasons. Parents who have children suffering from diabetes often face a very difficult time in locating information which is accurate and reliable.
Vital Facts about Diabetes in Children
The diabetes in kids can be of two types. These are diabetes type one and diabetes type two. The first type takes place when the immune system of the child attacks the beta cells which are responsible for the production of insulin. Type 2 is when the cells in the child’s body are not capable of responding to the insulin.
Causes of Diabetes in Kids
Genetic Reasons
The diabetes in kids could take place largely due to genetic reasons. This is more common in the case of children who are diagnosed with the type 2 diabetes. In the case of type 1 diabetes the risk of a child developing such a disease stands at the ratio of one to seventeen if his only his father has type one diabetes. The ratio is one to twenty five if the mother of the child happens to be the only parent having type one. If both the child’s parents suffer from the type 1 diabetes, then his risk of getting this disease ranges in between 1 in 4 to 1 in 10. If the child has one parent who has type 2 diabetes then his risk of getting the disease is 1 in 7. However, this could increase to 1 in 2 if both his parents suffer from type 2 diabetes.
Environmental Reasons
There are some doctors who are of the opinion that environmental factors have a significant role to play in the development of both type 1 as well as type 2 diabetes in kids. The first type of diabetes in kids takes place because of the presence of an unhealthy lifestyle along with very poor eating habits. The imbalance associated with a sedentary lifestyle along with a diet that is high in sugar could result in insulin resistance, imbalance in insulin and obesity. Doctors also believe that the climate also plays a very important role in the occurrence of diabetes in kids. A very cold climate is likely to trigger diabetes in kids, a fact which is demonstrated by the prevalence of this disease among kids living in the cold countries.
Children can be extremely prone to the disease known as diabetes. There are both environmental as well as hereditary reasons behind the development of diabetes in kids, but if you’re aware of reasons, it will be easier for you to avoid it.