Diabetes and Children: What You Need to Know

Diabetes is a chronic condition that needs to be talked about more – and there are two major reasons why. First, the sooner diabetes is detected the better, as early detection can help prevent or delay serious complications and improve quality of life. Secondly, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, diabetes in young people is on the rise, particularly type 2.

“Diabetes occurs when your blood sugar, or blood glucose, is too high, and it can lead to a variety of health problems,” says Kailin Rumfield, CRNP, who has been part of the pediatric endocrinology team at Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital for 15 years. “Whether a child has developed type 1 or type 2 diabetes, the signs and symptoms of diabetes require immediate medical attention. High blood sugars that are left untreated over time can affect every major organ in the child’s body, including the eyes, heart, nervous system and kidneys.”

Recognizing the signs and symptoms of diabetes can help your child get diagnosed early, which in turn increases their chance of a better outcome through childhood and into adulthood. These include:

• Frequent urination
• Increased thirst
• Hunger
• Tiredness
• Unexplained weight loss
• Slow healing of cuts or wounds
• Blurred vision, as the eye’s lens becomes dry
• Yeast infections in girls
• Irritability
• Fruity smell on the breath

The two most common types of diabetes are type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that occurs when the body’s immune system attacks and destroys cells within the pancreas that produce the hormone insulin, which allows glucose (blood sugar) and other nutrients to enter into cells of the body. The exact cause of type 1 diabetes is unknown, but researchers believe that a combination of genetic and environmental factors may be involved. Unfortunately, there is currently no known way to prevent type 1 diabetes.

In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas cannot make enough insulin and the cells of the body can’t use the insulin correctly. Unlike with type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes can sometimes be prevented or delayed with proven, achievable lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, making healthy eating choices and getting more physically active.

As cases of type 2 diabetes continue to rise among children and teens, it’s more important than ever that parents play an active role in helping their child manage their risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Two major factors that increase the chance of diabetes in children include inactivity and obesity, which is why Rumfield insists having a healthy lifestyle matters.

“Healthy eating, daily exercise and keeping a healthy weight are important steps to preventing type 2 diabetes in children,” Rumfield says. “As a parent, you can help support a healthy lifestyle by providing small portions of healthy foods, and making time to exercise with your child or offering your child the opportunity to be more active, like signing them up for a sport or fun active activity.”

Other healthy lifestyle behaviors include:

• Choosing to eat mainly healthy foods.
• Avoiding overeating.
• Seeking out whole fruits and vegetables.
• Avoiding processed foods and snacks.
• Increasing physical activity, ideally at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week.
• Drinking water instead of juice or soda.

While kids and teens might be able to delay or prevent type 2 diabetes by managing their weight and engaging in physical activity, there are other risk factors for type 2 diabetes that can’t be mitigated. Children are at an increased risk for the disease who:

• Have one or more family members with type 2 diabetes, with some ethnic and racial groups even more likely to develop it. These include: Hispanic/Latino Americans, African Americans, American Indians, Pacific Islanders, and some Asian Americans.
• Are born to a mom with gestational diabetes.
• Have one or more conditions related to insulin resistance, such as overweight or obesity; family history of type 2 diabetes; polycystic ovary syndrome.

If your child is diagnosed with diabetes, Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital is here to help. The Children’s Hospital’s Pediatric Endocrinology is a pediatric diabetes program that takes a multidisciplinary approach to care for your child while also educating your family, guiding you and your child on the path to a full and healthy life.

With a team of doctors, nurses, social workers and diabetes educators, our pediatric endocrinology team offers comprehensive care to children affected by endocrine disorders, such as type 1 and type 2 diabetes, as well as those with prediabetes. Our services include diabetes education, insulin pump training, pen usage and continuous glucose monitoring.

The pediatric diabetes program at Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital is known for its personalized care. “We know the patients who are calling, the parents who are calling and anything unique that might come up with them,” says Rumfield.

The fact that many of the program staff have diabetes lends itself to such personalized attention. “That’s not a requirement, but it makes us special. Patients can ask really specific questions. Having that personal insight is helpful,” says Rumfield, who has type 1 diabetes.

In addition, the program has a strong community outreach and education program, working with school nurses, teachers and bus drivers to make sure they are informed about the latest technology and care practices for students with diabetes. Having pediatric educators working so closely with the community makes this group unique. These educators also make sure their content is tailored for each child as their needs change.

The pediatric diabetes program is also using the latest technology – and with great impact. Advanced software solutions centralize data via Bluetooth so that patients have everything they need on their smartphones. This has made sharing A1c levels much easier.

“The shareability of A1c data has had a profound effect on our ability to get levels down,” Rumfield says “It’s important to know what blood sugars are at all times. School nurses need to know what’s going on since they’re not coming to the appointments.”

The department has locations in Allentown, Easton and Pennsburg, and treats about 700 children per year.