Entering ChinaWhen it comes to diabetes, many people often think of middle-aged and elderly people, especially those adults who love to eat greasy foods and do not pay attention to exercise. However, in recent years, there has been a alarming trend that the “victims” of diabetes are getting younger, and even some children have to deal with the problems caused by this chronic disease.
Not long ago, medical staff in the emergency department of the Second People’s Hospital of Yuhang District, Hangzhou, treated a 4-year-old diabetic child. The little girl, Lulu (not her real name), was rushed to the hospital with diabetic ketoacidosis, one of the most dangerous acute complications of diabetes.
Lulu is a healthy and lively little girl, usually always lively, especially likes to eat sweets, and during the Spring Festival, she “eats happily”. However, in the past few days, her mother has noticed that Lulu’s condition is getting worse and worse – instead of being as energetic as usual, she seems very tired and has no appetite. Out of concern, her mother hurriedly took her to the hospital for a check-up.
Doctors in the emergency department inquired about her condition and found that Lulu was experiencing typical symptoms of diabetes – she was drinking a lot of water every day, going to the toilet significantly more often, and even eating more. However, the child’s weight has declined. Mom thought it was just a sign of “long body” and didn’t pay much attention to it. When the doctor measured her blood sugar level, Lulu’s blood sugar was as high as 31.68mmol/L, which was far beyond the normal range. At this point, the doctor immediately did further tests and diagnosed Lulu with diabetes and ketoacidosis.
Diabetic ketoacidosis is the most common acute complication of diabetes mellitus and usually occurs in patients with type 1 diabetes, especially if the diabetes is poorly controlled. This condition can lead to a severe imbalance in the body’s acid-base balance, which can be life-threatening if not treated properly.
In fact, in recent years, the incidence of diabetes in children has been increasing year by year. Cases like Lulu’s for hospitalization for diabetic ketoacidosis are not uncommon. There are more than 100 new cases of new cases diagnosed in the Women’s and Children’s Hospital of Ningbo University every year, and the youngest patient is only 6 months old.
A parent from Ningbo also shared their child’s experience with diabetes. Her child was only about 2 years old, but unknowingly experienced symptoms such as drinking a lot of water, urinating frequently, and losing weight. Parents didn’t pay attention to it at first, thinking that it was the reason for the long body. By the time I took my child to the hospital for a check-up, my blood sugar had soared to the point where I couldn’t detect it, and I was finally diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. This news is undoubtedly a bolt from the blue for parents, but fortunately, after standardized treatment, the child’s blood sugar has been effectively controlled, and the weight has gradually recovered.
We often say that diabetes is an “adult disease” because adult lifestyle, diet and exercise are important triggers of diabetes. However, diabetes in children is becoming more frequent, mainly because the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes is different from that of type 2 diabetes in adults. Type 1 diabetes usually occurs after the destruction of β islet cells, resulting in an absolute lack of insulin secretion, which in turn leads to hyperglycemia. As for why this happens, current medical research suggests that genetic predisposition and some environmental factors (such as viral infections, chemical poisons, etc.) may be the main causes.
Unlike type 2 diabetes, treatment for type 1 diabetes does not rely on diet control and exercise, but instead requires insulin injections to maintain normal blood sugar levels. Although there is currently no cure for type 1 diabetes, with the development of science and technology, the treatment of diabetes has continued to advance, and blood sugar control has become more precise and safe.
Diabetic ketoacidosis is the most common acute complication in patients with diabetes, especially in children. If parents do not identify and act in a timely manner, it can lead to serious consequences. To help parents better prevent and recognize this symptom, we’ve put together a few key takeaways.
Diabetes is no longer a “disease of old age”, and children are beginning to be part of this “battle” against diabetes. For parents, understanding the early symptoms of diabetes and strengthening their children’s diet and lifestyle management can better prevent diabetes and its complications. After all, prevention is always better than cure, and the carefulness and care of parents will be an important guarantee for the healthy growth of children.
