Last Friday was World Diabetes Day, and although the date has passed, I think it is mandatory to report that more and more children are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. On this occasion it was the Spanish Society of Outpatient Pediatrics (SEPEAP) who has given the alarm; although in the blog we have been warning for some time about the frequency with which it occurs in the pediatric population.
This type of diabetes, is related to bad eating habits; In fact it is known that a diet rich in fiber and breakfast, can act as protective factors. But they also increase the incidence of type 1, since 1100 cases are diagnosed annually, and in Spain there are 29,000 children who suffer from it.
Let's clarify a bit what is that of diabetes 1 or 2
Diabetes 1 is due to the existence of an insulin deficit, that is, the origin is that the immune system destroys the cells of the pancreas that produce that hormone. But type two diabetes, the insulin that is produced by the pancreas, does not act properly in tissues; Diabetics who develop it have insulin resistance that their bodies make.
Until now, the type two, was not usually given in children and adolescents, because it was more typical of adults or elderly people
Is prevention possible?
In type 1 diabetes it would be very difficult, but not with type two: that is why it is so important that we are informed, and we know that - although the cases in children increase - it is not a losing battle. Changes in children's daily habits, and especially those related to the increase in obesity, are primarily responsible (whether we talk about this type of diabetes in adults, as in children).
Healthy eating and the promotion of physical activity should become a constant in families; we just have to think about what we earn in return because we talk about diabetes now, but about health in general They are two performances that benefit a lot. And also think that diabetes is a chronic disease, it is therefore a pity that we were not able to act as a family on these factors.
The treatment of diabetes
You know what happens through the administration of insulin; but not only that, because the family can learn self-control skills to educate the child, and above all maintain a positive attitude, because problems are faced much better this way. Children should lead a normal life, and they must also achieve some autonomy to cope with the disease in the future; we should also ensure that they are - and feel integrated - in the environments in which they develop.
The important thing is to reduce the limitations of the disease and avoid its complications, but this is not easy for pediatricians or parents
And if the family is important, so is the school, because - at least - they will spend five hours in it, if they are in school. Hence, on more than one occasion it is suggested that they should also receive training.
Among the deficits indicated by SEPEAP regarding the approach to chronic diseases in schools, there is a lack of health personnel, otherwise if teacher training would be mandatory. And taking into account that in other countries around us, schools do have that figure (surely you know a school where there is a nurse), it would be more than desirable to make it possible here too.
On World Diabetes Day, they also spoke from the SEPEAP of the advances that are taking place (new insulins, new control instruments ...). All this will improve the situation of diabetic people and their quality of life, while preventing complications. It could be that the cure of diabetes could be close, and this would make it possible to live day to day with hope.
