Diabetes in Children

Diabetes Overview

• Diabetes is a serious chronic disease that affects children, with type 1 diabetes being the most common.
• The cause of diabetes is unknown, but genetics and environmental factors like viruses are believed to play a role.

Types of Diabetes

• There are two main types of diabetes: type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes.
• Type 1 diabetes can occur at any age, while type 2 diabetes is more common in older people and certain ethnic groups (African Americans, American Indians, Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders, and Hispanics/Latinos).
• Type 2 diabetes is becoming increasingly prevalent in childhood, leading to obesity among children.

Impact of Diabetes

• Diabetes can cause impairment or further health problems if left untreated.
• Type 1 diabetes is a chronic disease that requires continual treatment to prevent further health issues.
• The incidence of type 1 diabetes among children continues to rise, with an estimated double-digit increase over the next decade.

Case Study

• The case study describes the care of a six-year-old girl with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes and her mother during the acute stage.
• The study explores factors that led to the child's and mother's presentation at a rural emergency department, including sociodemographic, cultural, and experiential factors.
• The treatment is described from the perspectives of the child and mother, and issues of hospitalization, family care, healthcare delivery, and required follow-up are explored.

Importance of Nursing Care

• School nurses should provide more support and information education to diabetic children.
• Nursing care is essential in improving a patient's health status and promoting a sense of normalcy in their life.
• The case study demonstrates the efficacy of various nursing theories and models in better caring for patients with type 1 diabetes.