The pandemic has brought on plenty of parenting challenges. On top of worrying about financial security, mental health, and, of course, being infected with COVID, there’s another issue parents are facing. The CDC has told us that kids who have had COVID are at greater risk of being diagnosed with diabetes.
According to their report, “Persons aged <18 years with COVID-19 were more likely to receive a new diabetes diagnosed >30 days after infection than were those without COVID-19 and those with prepandemic acute respiratory infections.” You might be wondering how much of a greater risk. The CDC goes on to say that it’s between 31-166%. That's not an insignificant figure.
Their report is particularly alarming to me, someone who lives with Type 1 diabetes
There’s no way I can opt out of my insulin
Without it, I will die.
Type 1, as far as we know right now, isn’t preventable. So what should a parent do with this jarring news? The CDC recommends that it’s important that health care professionals be aware of the risk and keep an eye on their pediatric patients who have had COVID. They (and their parents) need to watch for these symptoms in children: frequent urination, increased thirst, increased hunger, weight loss, tiredness or fatigue, stomach pain, and nausea or vomiting.
One challenge parents face is that these are often common symptoms of other illnesses
What should a parent do if their child is sick with one of the symptoms of Type 1 diabetes? Luckily, checking a child’s blood glucose is very fast and easy. If a parent is concerned, they should take their child to a medical professional promptly.
I want other parents and caregivers to know that the onset of Type 1 diabetes is a medical emergency. Every single minute counts. Don’t feel like you’re being a hypochondriac by insisting that the doctor check your child’s blood sugar. Doing so just might save their life.
