Today is celebrated on World Diabetes Day, which began to be marked on the calendar in 1991, in response to the alarming increase in cases worldwide. The sponsors of the celebration are the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization (WHO), although since 2007, the United Nations joins, making the date one of the “official health days” in the organization .
For the period in which we are (2009/2013), the motto chosen is 'Diabetes Education and Prevention'
According to WHO “Studies show that the risk of children suffering from it also increases”. Over time, diabetes can damage the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves, causing chronic problems and causing premature death.
Diabetes is a disease that is accompanied by very striking figures, specifically in Spain (and according to the journal 'Diabetology') would affect 13.8% of the population, including the percentage of diabetics - about 50% - who are undiagnosed That supposes more than four and a half million Spaniards, of which 10% suffer type 1 diabetes (variant that occurs in childhood or adolescence). Type 1 diabetes is characterized by an insulin deficiency, because the body cannot manufacture it, and it is treated with insulin. In many countries there is an increase in the diagnosis of cases of this diabetes, particularly among younger children. Curiously, Some morbidity patterns remind of epidemics of infectious diseases. The way to prevent type 1 diabetes is currently unknown.
And if the number of people affected by this type increases, Type 2 cases have tripled in the last 10 years, due to the increase in obesity and sedentary lifestyle. Until now it was considered a pathology of adults, but more and more frequently it occurs in minors. This diabetes is also known as 'diabesity', and is caused by a misuse of the insulin produced by the body. It is characterized by no symptoms, hence its danger, because it can cause damage in silence.
Diabetes in families with children
The Diabetes Foundation has conducted a study, the results of which show that some aspects of parental functioning can negatively affect the long-term adjustment of the child or adolescent:
Some responses or negative attitudes of caregivers (such as overprotection, manifest sadness, irritability, etc.).
Some negative feelings or ideas of caregivers (such as unresolved sadness, persistent anger at diagnosis, feelings of guilt, etc.).
The posttraumatic symptoms that some parents develop in the thread of the child's diabetes (for example, intrusive memories of the disease, difficulty speaking about the disease without getting excited, etc.).
The child builds the meaning of diabetes through what parents think, feel, show and how they act in front of it. Caregivers convey a meaning of danger, security, hope, helplessness, etc., many times without realizing
The study aimed to test this interpersonal model of adaptation to the disease, by applying surveys to participating families. Through them, the most common response formats of parents have been explored, how they felt about diabetes, and how they feel now that months or years have passed since diagnosis. The generous contribution of all the families that appeared in the survey through the Diabetes Foundation during 2012 has allowed us to obtain sufficient data to confirm the validity of the model.
Finally, I would like to remember that preventing diabetes (type 2, of course) is not difficult, it is about exercise and adopt a lifestyle based on a healthy diet, as we had anticipated.
Images | Howard Lake, Alan Levine More information | Foundation for Diabetes, IDF, WHO On Peques and More | The consumption of sugary drinks is related to the possibilities of developing type 2 diabetes
