HOW TO MANAGE TYPE 1 DIABETES IN CHILDREN

As parents , we know that toddlers and kids sleep, play and drink a lot. But if your child is suddenly drowsier than usual, is frequently thirsty, gets tired easily and loses weight drastically, these could be symptoms of type 1 diabetes (T1D). Sadly, these are easily overlooked by parents.

- By LAI S. REYES

“My son Neo, who was diagnosed wth T1D when he was two, is a very active child,” shares Jhen Linga, who has been helping her six-year-old son Neo manage his T1D for four years now. “All of a sudden, he started losing weight. It was so drastic.”

Alarmed, Jhen and her husband decided to bring him to the hospital at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“But his attending doctor told us it was just asthma and sent us home,” recounts Jhen. It was not until a second ER visit that the doctor checked his blood sugar level.

“When the results came out, the doctor immediately transferred Neo to the ICU,” Jhen laments. “Neo was already lethargic and has been in diabetic coma for two days.”

This life-changing event ignited Jhen’s commitment to Neo’s health.

“My husband and I take turns in monitoring Neo’s blood sugar and insulin administration,” adds Jhen.

She also highlighted the need for action. “It was quite overwhelming, but I had to act right away. I read a lot and researched about this life-threatening and lifetime disease. We had to be resilient and bounce back for him, to keep him alive and healthy.”