The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Diabetes in children

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 14, 2007
ePaper

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Diabetes in children

The prevalence of diabetes is increasing throughout the globe at an alarming rate with India being the Diabetes Capital of the world. Diabetes is now not a disease of the elderly as it was 30 yrs ago. More & more of children are getting diabetes at a very young age.

Types of Diabetes in children

Type 1 Dm(caused by a defect in immune system which leads to destruction of the insulin producing Beta cells of the pancreas) has classically always been considered the only type of diabetes in children except in rare instances. Indeed type1 Dm was called Juvenile diabetes. However some recent findings suggest that somewhere between 8-45% of newly diagnosed children with diabetes, may indeed have type 2 diabetes(interplay of insulin resistance and relative insulin deficiency.) Other types of Dm in children

1. FCPD (Fibro Calcific Pancreatic Diabetes)

2. MODY(Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young)

It results from genetic defect in insulin producing cells. Several varieties

exist in this type of diabetes.

It is sometimes difficult for the clinicians to properly classify children with diabetes. In the event that specific classification is warranted, additional testing may be necessary. Some of these tests include, fasting insulin or C-peptide levels, antibody measurements and genetic testing.

Reasons for increasing prevalence of type2 Dm in children:

Easy availability of energy rich foods, lack of exercises, watching TV and playing games in the computer for long hours lead to obesity and overweight in children. Obesity interferes with the action of insulin which is the vital harmone in glucose disposal.

Prevention of diabetes in children Primary prevention should involve a public health approach that involves school and community based programmes directed at improving overall nutrition and physical activity in children. The population of children with type2 diabetes is growing perhaps to epidemic proportions. Our children should be taught about the importance of healthy life style to have a better quality of life in future.

Dr. K. Krishnamoorthy M.D.,DNB.,

Diabetologist,

M.V DIABETES Clinic, Madurai.

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