Last updated on October 7th, 2024 at 05:11 pm
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What is diabetes?
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic medical disorder that impairs the body’s conversion of food, particularly sugars (carbohydrates), into energy. Diabetes that is not adequately managed can cause long-term damage to the heart, blood vessels, kidneys, eyes, and neurological system due to high blood glucose levels.
Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by elevated levels of blood glucose (blood sugar), which is caused either by insufficient insulin production in the body or the body’s inability to use insulin effectively.
Insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas, generally regulates blood glucose levels. When the pancreas doesn’t function properly or when the body doesn’t utilize insulin appropriately, diabetes can develop.
Types of Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes
When the pancreas fails to generate enough of the hormone insulin, type 1 diabetes develops. This prevents the body from using sugar, which causes it to accumulate in the bloodstream. These indigestible sugars, commonly known as glucose, leave the body through the urine and carry water.
Although type 1 diabetes can come up at any age, there are peak times between the ages of 5 and 6 and again between the ages of 11 and 13. Diabetes is one of the chronic ailments in children where the first sign involves increased weight gain, increased frequency of urination, particularly at night, and fatigue.
This can also lead to a potty-trained child resuming bedwetting. Other signs include increased appetite, extreme thirst, fatigue, and weight loss.
Type 2 diabetes
Children suffering from type 2 diabetes are the ones who struggle to use glucose (sugar) in food as an energy source. After we eat, glucose is produced from the carbs in meals. Blood sugar levels increase as soon as glucose enters the bloodstream. The pancreas releases insulin into the blood when this occurs. Insulin aids in opening cells throughout the body so that glucose may enter and provide the energy the cells require.
The pancreas will make insulin in type 2 diabetes, but the cells will not react to it. Insulin resistance is what causes this. The blood sugar level increases when glucose cannot enter cells. The pancreas then exerts greater effort to produce more insulin. The additional insulin initially keeps sugar levels within the typical range. However, the pancreas cannot keep up over time, and blood sugar levels remain high. A type 2 diabetic individual may have persistently elevated blood sugar levels.
Reasons for diabetes in children
1) Weight
Kids who are overweight are more prone to insulin resistance, especially if they have a lot of belly fat. A major risk factor for type 2 diabetes is insulin resistance.
The pancreas produces the hormone insulin, which functions as a key to allow blood sugar to enter cells for use as fuel. Cells can stop reacting to insulin normally due to inheritance (characteristics inherited from family members) or lifestyle. To induce cells to react and absorb blood sugar, the pancreas produces more insulin as a result.
Blood sugar levels stay normal as long as adequate insulin is generated. Even after several years, the pancreas eventually can’t keep up. Blood sugar levels begin to increase, first after meals and then continuously. Type 2 diabetes is now in the driving seat.
2) Age
Type 2 diabetes in children and teens is typically detected in the first few years of adolescence. One explanation is that the body has a harder time using insulin during puberty, especially for females, who are more prone than boys to acquire type 2 diabetes. Helping your kid take control of their health while they are still young is vital for this reason.
3) Activity level
Physical activity can alleviate the risk of type 2 diabetes by improving the body’s ability to utilize insulin and reducing insulin resistance. Physical activity enhances health by lowering blood pressure and enhancing mental wellness.
Diabetes treatment for Children
Type 1 diabetes in children is treated similarly to type 2 diabetes in adults. The course of treatment will change based on your child’s individual needs for growth and concerns. Children who are taking drugs should always be under adult supervision.
However, diet and lifestyle modifications should be tried to regulate blood sugar levels before taking drugs. Your child’s endocrinologist will decide which medicine is best for your child if diet and exercise are ineffective.
Teachers, coaches, and other adults who look after your kid may need to be informed about your child’s type 2 diabetes treatment depending on their symptoms and prescription requirements. Discuss a strategy with your child’s pediatrician for when they are at school or otherwise not with you.
1) Insulin
Your child will require insulin therapy multiple times every day. This is administered intravenously or using an insulin pen. Another choice is an insulin pump, a little gadget worn continuously. Through a plastic tube, the body is given insulin. Talk to your doctor about this because only some children are good candidates for insulin pumps. You can also buy generic medicine for children’s diabetes.
2) Sugar monitoring
You must routinely check your child’s blood glucose level to analyze fluctuations. To do this, a small amount of your child’s blood is tested in a specialized kit. The goal is to maintain their blood sugar levels within your doctor’s target range.
A blood sugar level that is either too low is called hypoglycemia. And if it is too high, it is hyperglycemia. You will need to understand and control high and low blood sugar levels. Consult the doctor who may prescribe medicines along with diet adjustment. Carefully balance the foods your child eats with their physical activity and insulin to maintain blood glucose levels within the recommended range.
3) Well-balanced diet
There is no one optimum diet for diabetes because every person’s body reacts differently to various meals and diets. Doctors often advise restricting a child’s added sugars and carbs intake with a high glycemic index score if they have type 2 diabetes (GI).
Measuring carbohydrate consumption helps ensure that a patient follows their diet plan’s recommended carbohydrate intake limit. There is no ideal daily carbohydrate consumption for every person.
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Another vital factor to think about is the type of carbohydrate. GI gauges how quickly glucose enters the bloodstream after a specific food has been consumed. Foods with a higher GI cause blood sugar levels to rise more quickly than those with a lower GI.
Conclusion
The prognosis for children with type 2 diabetes is difficult to predict since diabetes in children can be more difficult to identify and manage.
A relatively recent problem in medicine is type 2 diabetes in young people. There is much more to learn about its causes, consequences, and treatment options. Future research must examine the long-term effects of developing type 2 diabetes in childhood.
Medicines for diabetes
Generic medicines are medications produced and distributed without a brand name or trade name. They are typically produced in large quantities via a mass-production process and are then packaged and sold in bulk to pharmacies, grocers, and other distributors. Generic medicines for children suffering from diabetes can help to control blood glucose (sugar) levels and reduce the risk of long-term complications. These medications are usually prescribed with lifestyle changes, such as healthy eating and regular physical activity.
The most commonly prescribed generic medicines for children with diabetes include insulin, sulfonylureas, metformin, dipeptidyl-peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists, and thiazolidinediones (TZDs).
Insulin is a hormone that helps the body use glucose (sugar) for energy. It is usually given as an injection and can be used alone or in combination with other diabetes medications. Sulfonylureas are medications that stimulate the pancreas to produce more insulin.
● Metformin is a medication that helps the body better use insulin and reduces the amount of sugar produced by the liver.
● DPP-4 inhibitors and GLP-1 agonists are newer medications that help the body better use insulin and reduce the amount of sugar produced by the liver.
● TZDs are medications that help the body use insulin more effectively. Generic diabetes medications can be an effective and affordable way to help manage a child’s diabetes.
However, discussing all treatment options with your doctor is important to determine the best option for your child.
Buying generic diabetes medicines at Medkart
Buying generic medicines for diabetes can be a great way to save money while still getting effective treatment. Generic medicines are essentially the same drug as their branded counterparts but cost much less. Generic drugs are as effective and safe as name-brand drugs and contain the same active ingredients.
Once you’ve settled on the generic medicine you want, you can either get it from any of Medkart’s 100+ stores in India or order medicines online.
You can visit medkart.in, upload the prescription, and search for appropriate generic medicines for diabetes.
Moreover, you can download Medkart android app and Medkart iOS application to order generic medicines for diabetes on the go.
Finally, it’s important to ensure that you follow your doctor’s instructions for taking your generic medicine. Make sure to take the generic medicine simultaneously daily and follow the dosage instructions exactly as prescribed.
