Diabetes
Diabetes is a disorder in which insulin, a hormone necessary for the body to process sugar, is either not produced or not accepted by the body. Symptoms include frequent urination, excessive thirst, increased appetite, weight loss and fatigue. Type 1 diabetes is most likely to affect a toddler and is caused by the inability of the pancreas to produce insulin. In Type 2 diabetes, the pancreas does produce insulin, but either it doesn't do so in adequate amounts or the body has developed a resistance to the hormone. Contrary to popular belief, experts say you don't get diabetes from eating too much sugar, though being overweight is a risk factor for Type 2.
Type 2 used to be diagnosed mostly in people past forty, but it is increasingly common among children in the United States; this is partly due to the increased rate of childhood obesity. Type 2 is also much more likely than Type 1 to be genetic, and it affects people of African, Asian and Native American descent in disproportionate numbers. Both types can be managed through scheduled eating, regular insulin checks and other measures. Experts say it is essential to educate daycare providers and all the other people who care for your child on how to handle diabetes.
