Diabetes can be seen in all age groups, including the newborn period. However, the type of diabetes may also vary according to age group. Apart from diabetes due to genetic causes that occur in the first 6 months, Type 1 diabetes is the cause of more than 90percent of childhood age group diabetes. Both the mechanism of its occurrence and its treatment are quite different from Type 2 diabetes in adults. However, with the increase in obesity in children in recent years, Type 2 diabetes is also seen.

Type-1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is a disease that develops due to the inability to produce insulin from the pancreatic gland, that is, when the immune system attacks the body's own tissues.

The most common symptoms are frequent and abundant urination, drinking a lot of water, and weight loss despite increased appetite. Especially if a child who does not wake up to urinate at night gets up to urinate once or twice a night, or even starts to wet the bottom at night, these may be the initial signs of the disease. Diabetes coma symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, collapse in the eyes, deep and rapid breathing (respiratory distress), and the smell of acetone in the mouth develop as a result of the progression of symptoms in patients who are not diagnosed during this period. Since absolute insulin deficiency develops in type 1 diabetes, insulin injection is required 3-4 times a day from the moment of diagnosis.

Type-2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is the inability of the existing insulin to function as a result of weight-related insulin resistance.

If this resistance cannot be corrected, a decrease in the insulin-building capacity of the pancreas begins after a while. For this reason, diet-exercise and anti-diabetic drug treatment are primarily applied in Type 2 diabetes. However, insulin treatment is started in cases that cannot be controlled.

Diabetes Treatment in Children

Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented because it is not known in which child and when it will develop. Therefore, the important thing is that the child is diagnosed without developing diabetes coma after the symptoms begin.

It is possible to prevent the development of type 2 diabetes by eating healthily and exercising regularly. Existing diabetes can also be controlled by losing weight and following healthy eating rules.