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Diabetes and puberty

November 20, 2010 by

Puberty can be a very difficult time for all children because of the physical and psychological changes they go through. However, for teenage diabetes youngsters it can be a particularly challenging time. Stress often makes diabetes symptoms worse and as puberty can be a stressful time, many teenagers find that they go through periods of time when their symptoms get worse and they get increasingly fed up with their condition.

How does diabetes affect puberty?

Diabetes affects puberty in different ways depending on the individual; some teenagers may suffer much more than others during puberty. Diabetes can affect puberty in different ways, as follows:

Psychological effects

During puberty many teenagers feel under pressure to fit in and injecting insulin and eating special foods at specific times can be a hindrance to their social life; they may start to feel isolated and different and in extreme cases, teenagers may rebel against their routine in a bid to conform to the life that other teenagers are living; they may stop regulating their insulin and this can potentially be very serious. Most teenagers suffer from self-esteem issues and problems with confidence at some point during puberty, but for teenagers with diabetes, these problems can be ongoing and more severe. Some teenagers may become frustrated, angry and aggressive in reaction to the changes their body is undergoing as a result of puberty.

Physiological effects

As a result of the hormonal changes going on in the body during puberty, it may become more difficult for teenagers with diabetes to control their blood glucose levels; this is particularly true for teenage girls, as their blood glucose levels to change very quickly around the time of their period. Blood sugar levels can swing from high to low and this can be very frustrating. Some teenage girls may experience irregular periods as a result of diabetes.

There is some evidence to suggest that teenagers with type 1 diabetes go through puberty slightly later; this may mean that they do not reach sexual maturation as early as other children.

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Filed Under: Health Conditions

Diabetes treatment

November 11, 2010 by

Type 2 diabetes treatment

Many people with type 2 diabetes do not require medical treatment to control their blood glucose levels; instead, they are encouraged to make lifestyle changes and impose self-treatment measures to treat their condition; examples of this include:

?      Losing weight

?      Adopting a healthy diet

?      Cutting out salty, fatty and sugary foods

?      Exercising on a regular basis (30 minutes 5 times per week)

If these changes are not sufficient to control blood glucose levels and the individual is still experiencing symptoms, they may be prescribed medication; at first, usually one type of medication may be prescribed but as the conditions often gets gradually worse, other medicines may be introduced and in some cases, insulin injections may be used. Examples of medication used to treat type 2 diabetes include Metformin, Sulphonylureas, Gliptins and Glitazones.

Type 1 diabetes treatment

There is no cure for diabetes but there are treatments available to control blood sugar levels and reduce symptoms. For people with type 1 diabetes, the most common treatment is the insulin injection; patients are taught how to inject themselves and inject insulin at specific times during the day; this replaces the natural insulin which should be produced by the pancreas. Some patients prefer to use insulin pumps; pumps allow patients to control the flow of the insulin and enables patients to get their insulin without having to use injections.

Monitoring

Diabetes increases the risk of serious health problems and conditions and it is therefore important for all patients, from people with childhood and teenage diabetes, to adults, to see their care team on a regular basis. This helps to ensure that their blood sugar levels are being controlled effectively and also means that doctors can identify early warning signs and symptoms of associated health conditions.

What happens if diabetes is left untreated?

If diabetes is left untreated, it can be very dangerous. People with diabetes have a higher risk of developing serious health conditions, including heart attacks, strokes, vision problems and kidney disease and if the condition is not controlled and monitored, it is likely that the individual will experience some of these serious conditions.

If you experience symptoms associated with diabetes, including thirst, frequent urination, weight loss and blurred vision or you have family history, you are overweight or you are over the age of 40 you should consider asking your GP for a diabetes test.

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Filed Under: Treatments