Stay Informed

What is pediatric endocrinology?

Pediatric endocrinology is a medical sub-specialty dealing with a disorder of the endocrine system and its specific secretions called hormones, such as diabetes and other disorders of the endocrine glands, and variations of physical growth and sexual development in childhood.

What is the endocrine system?

The endocrine system is a complex group of glands. Glands are organs that make hormones. Hormones help to control activities in your child’s body. Different types of hormones control reproduction, metabolism (food burning and waste elimination) and growth and development. Hormones also control the way you respond to your surroundings, and they help to provide the proper amount of energy and nutrition your body needs to function. The glands that make up the endocrine system include the thyroid, parathyroid, pancreas, ovaries, testes, adrenal, pituitary and hypothalamus.

What is the metabolic system?

The metabolic system is a control system of the body that keeps the body's health in balance through the production of chemical substances.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a condition in which adequate amounts of insulin are either not produced, or the body is unable to use the insulin that is produced. Diabetes can be described as a metabolic disorder, because the disease affects the way the body metabolizes, or uses, digested food to make glucose (sugar), the main source of fuel for the body.

There are two types of pediatric diabetes: type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system attacks the cells that produce insulin, resulting in no or a low amount of insulin. Children with type 1 diabetes must take insulin daily. Type 2 diabetes is a result of the body's inability to make enough, or to properly use, insulin. Type 2 diabetes may be controlled with diet, exercise, and weight loss, or may require oral medication and/or insulin injection.

Your Child’s Diabetes Care

If your child vomits more than once in a 24-hour period, it is important that you call for medical advice. Vomiting may be a sign of impending or existing diabetic ketoacidosis, a state of insufficient insulin levels, resulting in high blood sugar and accumulation of organic acids and ketones in the blood. Ketoacidosis is a potentially life-threatening complication.

It is important that you always follow precautionary measures with your diabetic child. The following are things to remember:

• Never stop taking insulin
• Always assume that an illness is diabetes related until proven otherwise by a physician
• Check blood glucose every one to two hours when sick
• Check ketones with any illness and call if ketones are moderate to large
• Prevent hospitalization and ER visits by calling for advice early
• Fluids are important when ill, food is not
• Vomiting is serious-if vomiting occurs more than one time, call for advice
• If vomiting occurs, measure 4 oz of fluid and give by teaspoon, a little at a time
• Give Sugar-Free fluids if blood sugar is greater than 200, and fluids containing sugar if blood glucose is less than 200
• Be prepared! Have a diabetes supply kit at home or with you at all times

Diabetes Supply Kits

It is important to be prepared at all times and teach your child the same. Prepare two emergency diabetes kits, one for school or work and one that is kept with you (but don’t leave it in the car).

In each kid you should have:

• Insulin (one vial or pen of all types that you use) be sure to rotate the insulin before it expires
• Syringes and/or pen needles
• A paper with your insulin doses written down
• A list of emergency contact numbers
• Meter and Strips
• Lancing device (poker) and lancets
• Glucagon emergency kit
• Sugar source for treatment of lows
• Some carbohydrate containing foods (granola bars, crackers, etc.)

If your child has an insulin pump, include in your kits:

• Extra batteries
• Infusion sets
• Reservoir/syringes
• Ketone strips
• Bottle of Lantus in case of pump failure

Diabetes & School Preparedness

• Be sure your school form is completed.  Bring any schools forms to your next appointment.
• Set up meetings with school personnel to discuss your child’s diabetes plan.
• You have rights under the Americans’ with Disabilities Act. Ask for a 504 plan; this guarantees that all issues are discussed, addressed and resolved before school starts.