by Dana Tishenko, Peninsula Naturopathic Clinic –
The World Health Organization estimates that there are 422 million adults living with diabetes worldwide, a figure which has nearly doubled since 1980. It should be no surprise that this chronic disease has also had a toll on our children. The American Diabetes Association states that 23,525 children will be diagnosed with diabetes this year alone, and a whopping 22% of those will be Type 2 diabetics which was virtually unheard of a couple decades ago. Type 2 (T2) is normally diagnosed later in life, and related to risk factors such as poor diet and obesity. In children we are normally concerned with Type 1 (T1) diabetes, an autoimmune disease in which the person’s own immune system attacks the islet cells of the pancreas destroying the body’s ability to produce insulin. Diabetes T1 is the most common childhood disease in Canada with 75% of cases being diagnosed by age 15.
Who’s at risk? Unfortunately, despite intensive research it is unclear what causes T1 diabetes. A genetic predisposition for diabetes has been linked to several genes (HLA-DR3, HLA-DR4) but the environmental triggers are unknown. Studies of identical twins have shown that although one twin may be diagnosed with diabetes the other twin has less than a 50% chance of also developing the disease. Research suggests that early childhood diet may play a role, or there may be a virus that triggers the autoimmune response. Interestingly, most cases of diabetes T1 are diagnosed in the winter.
Warning signs to look for in your child include increased thirst and urination, changes in mood, irritability, unexplained fatigue, vision changes, failure to grow, weight loss, and reoccurring yeast infections in girls. A simple blood test is used to diagnosis the disease. Left untreated T1 diabetes is life threatening and can have serious complications.
What can you do if your child has been diagnosed with T1 diabetes? First, understand that it is absolutely not your fault, nor your child’s fault. There is nothing that can prepare you for the fear of the initial diagnosis as being faced with your child’s mortality is beyond frightening.
Start to build a social network with other T1 diabetic families. The Child and Family Health Unit through VGH is a great resource. There are also many online communities and local events to meet other kids with T1 diabetes. This will help to normalize the disease for your child so they realize that they are not alone.
Create a healthy relationship with food. This means you want your child to eat a whole foods diet low in processed foods (that I would recommend for every child) but you do not want to outlaw “sweet foods.” TI diabetics did not get their disease from eating poorly, they just need to properly dose medication to account for carbohydrate intake. You do not want to create an atmosphere where children are hiding away eating a cupcake.
Foster a strong relationship with your child’s healthcare team. During the adolescent years teens are at a particularly high risk of poor blood sugar control because they are eating outside the home, and may be experimenting with alcohol or drugs. They are also at higher risk of developing eating disorders. They need to have adults they trust who teach them strategies to minimize damage.
Diabetes is a daunting diagnosis but with new insulin medications, and improved technology for monitoring blood sugars it is possible to manage the disease better than ever before and your child has a very good chance of living a long and healthy life.
