Diabetes mellitus in children is diagnosed more and more often, both in preschool children and adolescents, as well as infants. As a rule, children develop type 1 diabetes (insulin resistance) of an autoimmune nature.
The leading factor in the development of diabetes in childhood is hereditary predisposition, but to initiate the autoimmune process, exposure to an environmental factor is necessary.
Triggers of childhood diabetes:
Coxsackie virus, ECHO, Epstein-Barr, mumps, rubella, herpes, measles, rotaviruses, enteroviruses, cytomegaloviruses.
Also, doctors include artificial or mixed feeding, cow’s milk, monotonous carbohydrate foods, as well as stressful situations and surgical interventions among the provoking factors.
At risk are children with a birth weight of over 4.5 kg, obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, diathesis and frequent illnesses.
Diabetes mellitus in children can be suspected by pathognomonic signs: increased urination (polyuria), thirst (polydipsia), increased appetite (polyphagia) with weight loss.
The local pediatrician who is monitoring the child plays an important role in identifying diabetes mellitus. Children with obvious manifestations of the disease should be transferred to a pediatric endocrinologist for management.
The main components of treatment: insulin therapy, diet, healthy lifestyle and self-monitoring. Elimination of sugar, limitation of carbohydrates and animal fats, fractional meals 5-6 times a day and taking into account individual norms of KBZhU.