Early Childhood Intervention
This website is a place for families who are facing
challenges pertaining to their child's development and
growth.
It is a place to find answers and practical
suggestions. That's what Early Intervention Support is all
about.
Whether a family has a child with a challenging behavior,
a disability or developmental issue, childhood is short - it
should be savored and enjoyed.
Learn More:
Ask a Therapist
We understand developmental milestones and the challenges
of Special Needs children. We spend a great deal of time
with families understanding the inner workings of childhood
routines and interactions. Ask us about your child today!
Ask a Therapist
Juvenile Diabetes
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If your child has been diagnosed with diabetes, it means his
or her pancreas is either producing little or no insulin.
When working properly, the pancreas produces the hormone
insulin to control blood sugar levels. Without insulin, glucose
builds up in the body, overflows into the urine, and passes out
of the body in the urine. When this happens, the body loses its
main source of fuel.
What are the Types of Juvenile Diabetes?
The two types of diabetes that can affect children are:
- Type 1 diabetes
- Type 2 diabetes
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. An autoimmune disease results
when the body's system for fighting infection (the immune system), turns
against a part of the body. In diabetes, the immune system attacks and
destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. The pancreas then
produces little or no insulin.
A person who has type 1 diabetes must take insulin daily to live.
What Causes Type 1 Diabetes?
Research is ongoing to determine the cause. It is thought that
autoimmune, genetic, and environmental factors possibly viruses are
involved.
Type 1 Diabetes Symptoms
Symptoms of type 1 diabetes usually develop over a short period, although
beta cell destruction can begin years earlier. Symptoms may include:
- Increased thirst and urination
- Constant hunger
- Weight loss
- Blurred vision
- Extreme fatigue
If not diagnosed and treated with insulin, a person with type 1 diabetes
can lapse into a life-threatening diabetic coma, also known as diabetic
ketoacidosis.
What Causes Type 2 Diabetes?
The most common form of diabetes is type 2 diabetes. About 90 to 95
percent of people with diabetes have type 2. This form of diabetes is most
often associated with older age, obesity, family history of diabetes,
previous history of gestational diabetes, physical inactivity, and certain
ethnicities. However, type 2 diabetes is increasing in children and
adolescents.
Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms
The symptoms of type 2 diabetes develop gradually. Their onset is not as
sudden as in type 1 diabetes.
Symptoms may include:
- Fatigue
- Frequent urination
- Increased thirst and hunger
- Weight loss
- Blurred vision
- Slow healing of wounds or sores
- Sometimes a person can have type 2 diabetes, though, without any
symptoms.
How is Diabetes Diagnosed?
The fasting blood glucose test is the preferred test for diagnosing
diabetes in children and is most reliable when done in the morning. However,
a diagnosis of diabetes can be made based on any of the following test
results, confirmed by retesting on a different day:
- A blood glucose level of 126 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or
more after an 8 hour fast. This test is called the fasting blood glucose
test.
- A blood glucose level of 200 mg/dL or more, 2 hours after drinking a
beverage containing 75 grams of glucose dissolved in water. This test is
called the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).
- A random (taken at any time of day) blood glucose level of 200 mg/dL
or more, along with the presence of diabetes symptoms.
Diabetes Treatment
The immediate treatment is to control the high blood glucose levels. Your
child might need to be hospitalized initially due to the sudden onset and
severity of symptoms in type 1 diabetes.
Once your child's blood glucose levels are under control, ongoing
treatment is needed to reduce symptoms, and prevent future diabetes-related
complications such as blindness, kidney failure, and amputation of limbs.
A specific treatment plan will be devised for your child, but both type 1
and type 2 diabetes are treated with insulin use, meal planning and weight
control, exercise, foot care, and careful self-testing of blood glucose
levels.
Usually insulin injections are needed one to four times a day. Since a
child is not capable of giving themselves injections, parents or other
adults like school nurses will need to give the injections. Most children
can handle the responsibility of giving themselves their own injections by
age 14.
Where Can I Get More Information?
National Diabetes Education Program
1 Diabetes Way
Bethesda, MD 20892-3560
Phone: 1-800-438-5383
Website: www.ndep.nih.gov
To find a clinical trial, check NIHs database at
www.ClinicalTrials.gov
online.
To participate in studies about type 1 diabetes, contact:
Type 1 Diabetes TrialNet
Phone: 1-800-425-8361
Website:
www.DiabetesTrialNet.org
American Diabetes Association
National Service Center
1701 North Beauregard Street
Alexandria, VA 22311
Phone: 1-800-342-2383
Website: www.diabetes.org
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International
120 Wall Street, 19th Floor
New York, NY 10005
Phone: 1-800-533-2873
Website: www.jdrf.org
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Learn More About Early Intervention
Therapy Options
Thankfully, there are many ways to deal with childhood developmental
delays and behaviors. These include in-home services, outpatient (you take
your child to a clinic), inpatient (following injury or surgery) and school
based services. Which type of therapy should you choose?
Visit our Therapy Options
area to learn more.
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