138 HAWAII PARENT March/April 2024 a parent’s intuition should always be followed. And, a visit to the doctor can help ease anxieties or lead to essential diagnosis and assistance. How can I help my child manage their diabetes? “The most important part is to tackle the problem as a team,” Diep emphasizes. “The team consists of the entire family (parents and kids) as well as the child’s pediatrician and specialists (diabetes educator, endocrinologist to help manage the medications and insulin). Sometimes having a dietician helps, too. Regular checks with other specialists, including the eye doctor and nephrologists, are also important because diabetes can often affect the eyes and the kidneys.” The CDC has the following three recommendations for assisting a child to man- “Ultimately, it is the high levels of sugar in the blood that will damage other parts of the body. Type 1 diabetes usually presents in younger children, whereas Type 2 is (often diagnosed) in older individuals,” Diep adds. What are the symptoms for diabetes in keiki? “Symptoms of diabetes in kids are very non-specific,” Diep cautions, “but some symptoms to be aware of include the following: frequent urination; wanting to drink a lot of water or eat a lot; unintentional weight loss; irritability or behavioral changes; fatigue and decreased energy levels; vomiting; and, if diabetes gets really bad (without treatment), it can lead to breathing problems.” As with any concern about our children, Many people don’t realize that diabetes also affects children. “Type 1 Diabetes is diagnosed almost exclusively in childhood.”
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