Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects millions of people worldwide, and contrary to popular belief, it's not just an adult disease. More and more children are being diagnosed with diabetes, and the causes are not always clear. In this article, we're going to dive into the surprising truth behind how kids get diabetes.
Understanding Diabetes
Before we explore how kids get diabetes, let's first take a moment to understand what exactly diabetes is. At its core, diabetes is a condition where the body cannot produce or properly use insulin - a hormone responsible for regulating blood sugar levels in the body. When someone has diabetes, their blood sugar levels can become dangerously high or low depending on the type of diabetes they have.
There are three main types of diabetes: Type 1 Diabetes (formerly known as juvenile-onset), Type 2 Diabetes (formerly known as adult-onset), and Gestational Diabetes (a form that occurs during pregnancy). Each type has its own unique characteristics and risk factors.
How Kids Get Type 1 Diabetes - The Juvenile-Onset Kind
Type 1 Diabetes is also called "juvenile-onset" because it typically appears in children under the age of 18. It's caused by an autoimmune attack on the beta cells in your pancreas - these are the cells responsible for producing insulin.
No one knows why some children develop this autoimmune response while others do not. However, researchers believe genetic factors play a role because if one identical twin develops type 1 diabetes there’s about |-70% likelihood the other will too.
Some scientists think viral infections could trigger type-1-j-diabetes -- according to JDRF,a global organization funding T1D research,type-1 diabetesis neither preventable nor curable.However,treatments such using regular insulin injections , avoiding high carb,sugar foods& monitoring sugar levels and monitoring a diabetic diet can help manage the condition.
How Kids Get Type 2 Diabetes - Not Only Adults Develop it
Type 2 diabetes used to be referred to as "adult-onset" because it was most commonly diagnosed in adults over the age of 40. In recent years, however, an increasing number of children have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes -- particularly those who are overweight or obese.
This is because excess body fat makes it harder for your cells to respond properly to insulin - a phenomenon known as "insulin resistance." Over time, this imbalance can damage your beta cells' ability to produce enough insulin, and blood sugar levels rise accordingly. Children who come from families with strong genetic factors may also develop type-2-diabetes even if they maintain proper weight.Lifestyle changes like exercising regularly eating healthy foods helps prevent childhood obesity.
Gestational Diabetes? What's That & How Do Kids Get it?
As mentioned earlier,Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy when hormones secreted by placenta block insulin thereby elevating maternal blood sugars.Some mothers tend towards macrosomic babies i.e.above average birth weights which predispose their kidsto T1D& dT2D.
Babies born from gestational diabetic mothers are more likely than others babies-to-be-born without this risk factor-toards having Obese Mothers,Hypoglycemic Episodes(Impaired glucose metabolism),Low Insulin Hypersensitivity& consequently,T2DM.Therefore,it's important`to note that gestationaldiabetes increases offspring risksToward T1D&TdM,right after childbirths,the baby should undergo tests frequently(to reduce risks)
Diet And Lifestyle Choices
There seemsToBe( As studies suggest )an evident correlation between poor diets,lazing around screens all day long,& increased Type II DM prevalence among kids hence its important for guardians/parents,to monitor kid activity such exercise schedules,mediating a healthy diet & avoiding unhealthy foods.
In Conclusion
In conclusion,the causes of diabetes are not always easy to identify or understand. Genetics, lifestyle choices,& environmental influences all play different roles in the development of this chronic condition. By understanding how kids get diabetes you can take steps to help mitigate these risk factors and help your children stay healthy well into their adult lives!