Pediatric Seizures

Despite our best efforts as parents or caregivers, children get sick. One such disease that is becoming increasingly prevalent is pediatric diabetes. However, keeping a diabetic child healthy is dependent to be informed about the disease, its symptoms and treatments. Take care of the child with diabetes is the responsibility of all persons who, at one time or another must take care of this child. As such, parents should ensure that all caregivers are aware of the food needs of their child with diabetes.

Most children tend to have Type I diabetes, previously known as juvenile diabetes, although children are increasingly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes as well. Type I diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not work and does not produce insulin. Insulin is needed to help break down sugars (glucose) in our body to help it work effectively. When this breakdown of sugars does not occur, as in the case of type I diabetes, the sugar stays in the blood.

Because insulin is important in breaking down sugars in the body use energy, insulin must be taken to control the disease. Therefore, Type I diabetes is also called diabetes mellitus. Exercise and diet are also important in helping control this type of diabetes. Take care of the child with diabetes means that you must recognize the signs of the disease, and any resultant reaction can occur. The main signs of diabetes in children are:

Breath odor of fruit
Constant hunger
Pulse beats faster than normal
Headaches
Being weak and dizzy
Difficulty concentrating
Vision becomes hazy
Skin tends to be cold and wet
Living seizures

Then you should be able to determine if the child is in crisis, suffering either a hypoglycemic episode or hyperglycemia, and you should know what to do help in both cases. Hyperglycemia occurs when blood sugar too high. Rising sugar levels are usually the result of overeating, not taking the correct amount of insulin or does not do enough exercise. When a child is hyperglycemic, treatment by medical professionals are needed. A child suffering from blood sugar will complain of the following:

Weakness
Extreme thirst
Needing to urinate frequently
Not seeing clearly
Not hungry

With hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), the symptoms vary from child to child, but some typical signs include:

Clumsiness
Sudden mood changes
Sweating
Hunger
Seeming confused
Trembling
Headache
Tingling around the mouth

The first course of action is to increase the sugar intake of children by giving them something sweet to drink, as regular soda, fruit juice or glucose tablets. Once the child feels better, you should give them something more solid to eat. If the child is too weak to swallow or is unconscious, administer the recommended dosage of glucagon and seek immediate medical help. Glucagon is a drug administered by injection to rapidly increase the level of glucose in the blood. It is normally the first course of treatment in severe hypoglycemia.

Food is an important element to keep the diabetic child healthy. The caregiver has the responsibility to ensure that the child eats what is recommended. It is also important to talk with the child and let them know they get really sick if they eat too many sweets or other foods that may pose a risk. It is also important to let others, such as teachers, know that a child with diabetes may need to snack to increase their energy levels and sugar. The child with diabetes should also have regular meals.

Exercise is also important, and there is no reason for diabetic chi.