Child Diabetes, often referred to as pediatric diabetes, is a condition characterized by elevated blood sugar levels in children and adolescents. The most common types of diabetes affecting this age group are Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas, resulting in little to no insulin production. This type generally manifests in childhood or adolescence and requires lifelong management with insulin therapy.
Type 2 diabetes, though more common in adults, is increasingly being diagnosed in children, often linked to obesity and sedentary lifestyles. In this form, the body either becomes resistant to insulin or fails to produce sufficient insulin, leading to high blood sugar levels.
Key aspects of managing child diabetes include regular blood glucose monitoring, a balanced diet, physical activity, and, in the case of Type 1, insulin administration. Education and support for both the child and their family are crucial for effective management of the condition, ensuring the child’s healthy growth and development while minimizing the risk of complications associated with diabetes.
**The Rise of Continuous Glucose Monitors and the Problem in Schools** For many children with Type 1 diabetes, frequent blood sugar checks used to be a daily struggle at school.…