Mary Alice Reporting –
A surge in children type 1 diabetes diagnoses is forecasted over the next four decades, an increase by 65-percent.
Currently, this particular chronic condition affects 1.6 million adults and 283,000 children. Type 1 diabetes is a chronic autoimmune condition where the pancreas makes little or no insulin.
Dr. Greg Forlenza, a Pediatric Endocrinologist, says this type of disease needs to be consistently monitored.
“So people with type one diabetes need to either give multiple injections a day, wear an insulin pump, do multiple finger stick blood sugar tests a day, or wear a blood glucose monitor.”
In terms of symptoms for new Type 1 diabetes in juveniles, Forlenza notes that drinking more fluids and going to the bathroom frequently could be an indicator along with others.
“Mood change, being irritable, being tired, are common things we see parents say, and unexplained weight loss. If it gets further before diagnosed, upset stomach, nausea, and vomiting.”
He adds for parents or guardians to advocate for their child’s health and if such symptoms become present, talk with a primary care doctor and push to have testing done.
For more details about this health condition, go to www.cdc.gov/diabetes and click on the diabetes basics tab.
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