|  | Family Health | Childrens Health

High Blood Sugar Levels in Kids

High blood sugar levels in kids, also known as hyperglycemia, can be a symptom of diabetes. According to the 2011 fact sheet issued by the American Diabetes Association, one in every 400 kids and adolescents have Type 1 diabetes. If not treated correctly, high blood sugar levels can cause serious illness in kids due to chemicals named ketones that are released in the urine and blood. Educating yourself about high blood sugar in kids can help prevent this disease.

  1. Causes Of High Blood Sugar

    • Kids can have high blood sugar due to the foods that they eat. Consuming a lot of carbohydrates should be prevented because the body of a diabetic cannot digest a large amount of carbohydrates fast enough to provide energy. Blood sugar levels will go up. Illness such as the flu can also bring on high blood sugar in kids, as can skipping your blood sugar medicine. If you lack exercise, your blood sugar levels can go up because exercise helps regulate blood sugar levels.

    Symptoms of High Blood Sugar

    • A child with a high blood sugar level urinates frequently because his kidneys need to eliminate excess glucose from his body. Because of the frequent urinating, he gets dehydrated and thirsty and drinks more liquids. Weight loss is another symptom of high blood sugar in kids. The child's body lacks insulin to use for the breakdown of glucose and therefor muscle tissue and fat are used as energy sources instead. Fatigue, drowsiness and tiredness also set in due to the lack of energy. Persisting high blood sugar can lead to more serious symptoms such as breathing difficulties, coma and unconsciousness.

    Remedies For High Blood Sugar

    • To treat high blood sugar in children, you have to find out what is causing it. If it's an illness that is making your child's blood sugar rise, you have to treat the illness at hand. Regular exercise and following a meal plan developed by a dietitian can help control blood sugar levels. If high blood sugar is a symptom of diabetes and if your diet and exercise regimen don't work, medicine or insulin injections have to be used to control the levels.

    Prevention of High Blood Sugar

    • High blood sugar can be prevented by following a diabetes management plan that keeps your child's blood sugar levels as normal as possible. Kids have to monitor their blood sugar level several times throughout the day with the help of a glucose meter. Let your child wear a medical identification bracelet that mentions that they have diabetes. The phone numbers of the parents and doctor can also be included. The bracelet is useful during times when your child is not feeling well and is amongst strangers. They will instantly know what the issue is and will call for help.

Childrens Health - Related Articles