Diabetes
Diabetes mellitus (MEL-ih-tus), often referred to as diabetes, is characterized by high blood glucose (sugar) levels that result from the body’s inability to produce enough insulin and/or effectively utilize the insulin. Diabetes is a serious, life-long condition and the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Diabetes is a disorder of metabolism (the body's way of digesting food and converting it into energy). There are three forms of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that accounts for five- to 10-percent of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. Type 2 diabetes may account for 90- to 95-percent of all diagnosed cases. The third type of diabetes occurs in pregnancy and is referred to as gestational diabetes. Left untreated, gestational diabetes can cause health issues for pregnant women and their babies. People with diabetes can take preventive steps to control this disease and decrease the risk of further complications.
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- Q What causes type 2 diabetes in children?
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The exact cause of type 2 diabetes is not known. But experts believe the disease develops in children the same way it does in adults. The body does not produce enough of the hormone insulin, or it cannot correctly use the insulin available (insulin... Full Answer
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- Q What are the symptoms of type 2 diabetes in children?
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Most patients with type 2 diabetes do not have any symptoms and are often diagnosed by a screening blood sugar test. Others may have one or more of the following symptoms: excessive tiredness, skin or urinary infections, itchy vagina, drinking... Full Answer
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- Q How can I help prevent type 2 diabetes in children?
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There are many risks factors for developing type 2 diabetes. Some of them cannot be changed, such as sex or ethnic group, but there are some risk factors that can be modified. They include what the mother does during the pregnancy and what the... Full Answer
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- Q What are the risk factors of type 2 diabetes in children?
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Dr. Francine Kaufman, a diabetes expert, talks about the risk factors of Type 2 diabetes in children. Full Answer
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- Q Is diabetes reversible?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, CardiologyManaging diabetes through a proper diet can help you live better and longer -- and may even help you change the course of the disease. In this video, Dr. Oz talks about the tremendous effect that diet can have on diabetes, even reversing your... Full Answer
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- Q How should I prepare the teachers of my child with diabetes?
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Prepare the school staff if your child has diabetes: 1. Make sure your doctor completes and signs the Medical Authorization Form before you leave the hospital or clinic. This form allows your child to carry and receive medication at school. Note... Full Answer
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- Q How should I keep track of my blood sugar levels if I have diabetes?
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Use the log book that comes with your meter to record your blood glucose readings, insulin doses, and other information. Keep this record faithfully, for at least two weeks after your diagnosis -- you'll need this information as you work with... Full Answer
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- Q What should I consider before buying a blood glucose meter?
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To choose the right blood glucose meter, you may want to consider several aspects: insurance coverage, your budget, ease of use, test site, your schedule, your vision, your support system, user-friendliness, accuracy, meter size, meter memory, data... Full Answer
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- Q How do I check my child's blood sugar levels if he has diabetes?
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Checking blood sugar levels involves taking a drop of blood, usually from the fingertip, and placing it on a special test strip in a glucose meter. Blood sugar meters are easy to use, and even young children often learn quickly how to do their... Full Answer
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- Q How is type 1 diabetes treated in young children?
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William Lee Dubois, Endocrinology, Diabetes & MetabolismInsulin is the one and only way to treat Type-1 Diabetes, regardless of age, because those of us with T-1 don’t produce any insulin ourselves. Without insulin from outside, T-1 is fatal.When it comes to young children, although the medication is... Full Answer
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