Profile of Diabetes Mellitus and Its complications in Children

Abstract

Diabetes in children is a serious condition, which has to be managed by both medical professionals and the social support system. The social support system could be organizations of non-medical personnel or patients themselves who organize themselves into groups to discuss their problems. These children also need family support both emotionally and financially. The newlinepsychology of the child has to be understood and each child managed individually. The adolescent period is by itself a turbulent one and when diabetes intervenes it could be very tumultuous. Medical and Para medical personnel should rise and be care givers than just pill providers. It is indeed important to treat the person rather than just his blood glucose and complications and give the patient a sense of complete well being. Diabetic services include a dedicated interdisciplinary team of highly qualified practitioners with specialization skills in diabetic care. In health care, teamwork is primarily concerned with the interaction of different health care professionals. Good teamwork requires integration, adaptation, tolerance, cooperation, and building on each others strengths. Cost of diabetic care for patients should be made free therefore making the financial status of patients a non-factor to seeking care for their condition. Centralized diabetic clinic and community based health centers will improve access and quality of care while decreasing the cost burden. To conclude, with increased awareness of diabetes in children, recognition of Diabetes Mellitus in children is also on the increase. Hence the need of the hour is early recognition and institution of appropriate therapeutic modalities to prevent complications. In addition, early markers are required to recognize the onset of diabetes to aid prevention. In summary, T1DM contributes to the majority of Diabetes Mellitus in children when compared to other types of Diabetes Mellitus. Infantile onset Diabetes Mellitus has kindled new interest into the etiology and management.