CANTIKA.COM, Jakarta – Pediatrician from the Endocrinology Division of Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital Ghaisani Fadiana said there are three symptoms of diabetes in children called 3P, namely polyuria or frequent urination at night. Then there is also polydipsia or frequently feeling thirsty, and polyphagia or feeling hungry easily.
“Usually 3P is accompanied by one more distinctive thing, namely that body weight does not increase or even decreases, and this is quite often found in children and teenagers with diabetes,” said Ghaisani at a health discussion which was attended online in Jakarta, Friday 8 September 2023.
This doctor at the Department of Pediatrics, FKUI RSCM, said that other symptoms of diabetes in children are getting tired quickly and being unable to participate in moderate to vigorous activities.
A small number of children with diabetes mellitus will also have recurrent infections, such as recurrent lung and fungal infections.
To find out if a child has diabetes mellitus, parents must understand some of the symptoms. Apart from 3P, routinely checking blood sugar levels also includes early detection to find out whether the child has diabetes or not.
If the blood sugar is more than 200 mg/dl, plus there are 3P symptoms, then it is certain that the child is likely to have DM.
Unfortunately, parents often take their children to the hospital too late and arrive already in serious conditions, such as shortness of breath, dehydration and even decreased consciousness.
Ghaisani said that most diabetes in children is type 1, where there is a problem in the pancreas so that it cannot produce enough insulin for the body.
“In contrast to diabetes mellitus in adults, which is mostly type 2, the pancreas can produce insulin but the insulin cannot control blood sugar in the body.”
“The consequences will definitely be different in the management and therapy in children, because for the majority of type 1 DM whose bodies cannot produce insulin, what must be done as therapy is insulin injection therapy,” he said.
Insulin injections are mandatory to prevent these serious complications and the risk of complications is smaller if you diligently inject insulin as recommended.
For children who have received insulin therapy, their blood sugar must still be checked periodically throughout the day to determine the adequacy of the insulin dose and their eating arrangements.
Ideally, children should check their blood sugar every time before eating and 2 hours after eating or at least 3-4 times a day, with the aim of knowing if the food given is enough to meet the blood sugar level in their body.
“But if you have a fever, you should be checked more often because if you are sick, there is a risk of increased or lower blood sugar,” explained Ghaisani.
Apart from insulin injections, children with diabetes also need to monitor their diet, have a balanced diet, avoid intake of high levels of sugar, and those containing artificial sweeteners such as candy and soda.
However, you still have to pay attention to your carbohydrate intake because in principle children who have diabetes mellitus still need carbohydrates to grow and develop.
This doctor, who also practices at Pondok Indah Hospital, said that children with diabetes mellitus must continue to do moderate to heavy intensity physical activity. This physical activity is recommended to be done 3-4 times a week.
“What is clear is that children with DM cannot walk alone, they need a complete support system, their family supports them, their teachers support them, we actually have to educate them,” said Ghaisani.
Children with diabetes mellitus can still eat sweet foods, but those with complex sugars such as fruit. If a child’s blood sugar is found to be low, independent treatment that can be done is to provide fast-acting carbohydrates such as sugar water, sweet tea, candy or raisins.
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2023-09-08 15:00:00
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