Diabetes Series: What you need to know about diabetes in young Kids

It’s difficult to imagine a child or teenager having to deal with the realities of diabetes and yet for many families that is their reality. In this episode, Dr Darren Green speaks to Pediatrician Dr Lerato Motjale about the critical aspects of managing diabetes in young children, emphasizing the distinction between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition, while type 2 is hereditary and can be influenced by lifestyle factors. 

You’ll hear expert insights into managing diabetic children, emphasizing the role of a supportive diabetes team, including primary doctors, diabetes nurses, and dieticians. It can be a real challenge managing diabetes in school, so you’ll find out more about the need for teacher education and the importance of having a glucose-rich emergency kit available for children. If you’re a parent of a diabetic or have a diabetic child in your life, then this episode will be educational and encouraging. 

Some notable moments: 

[00:00:27]: Types of Diabetes

[00:01:41]: Symptoms of Type 1 diabetes in children

[00:04:40]: Managing a child with diabetes from a parent’s perspective

 [00:06:06]: What role does a peadatrcian play in a child’s diagnosis

[00:12:41]: The role a school plays in assisting your child who has diabetes

[00:13:58]: Managing hypo’s in children can be challenging

[00:22:00]: How puberty affects a child with diabetes

[00:23:47]: Making use of support centres such as diabetes camps

Links you should know about: 

1. Mediclinic webpage – searching under Health Library https://www.mediclinic.co.za/en/corporate/health-knowledge-library.html https://www.mediclinicinfohub.co.za/  (user can enter Diabetes or Type 1 search option to obtain more articles on the section of Diabetes)
2. To make a doctor’s appointment with a Mediclinic doctor follow this link https://www.mediclinic.co.za/en/corporate/find-a-doctor/doctor-appointments.html 
3. Diabetes Support at Mediclinic Hospitals (clinics and support groups, please visit Mediclinic webpage and search for Diabetes Support – www.mediclinic.co.za
4. Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus in Children
5. Evaluation and Management of Youth-Onset Type 2 Diabetes: A Position Statement by the American Diabetes Association 
6. The Type 1 Diabetes Guidebook - for parents 
7. www.youthwithdiabetes.com 
8. Kids Powered by Insulin Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/126822160665767
9. South Africans with Diabetes - www.facebook.com/diabeticsouthafricans

Transcript.pdf