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
Type 1 is an autoimmune disease in which my pancreas ceased to make insulin. Insulin is a life-sustaining hormone, and those of us with Type 1 must take insulin by injection or pump in order to stay alive.
It sounds simple enough, but Type 1 diabetes is hardly an easy disease
I was diagnosed 16 years ago after I had a stomach virus. After the virus had passed, I continued to lose weight, dropping to a mere 90 pounds on my 5'8" frame. I also experienced neuropathy, depression, bed wetting, repeated sinus infections, chronic fatigue, constant thirst and hunger, and blurry vision. Though I had every classic Type 1 symptom, five medical professionals failed to diagnose me. Instead, I was misdiagnosed with anorexia and bulimia. I was told by a dietitian that I just needed to eat more.
Unfortunately, the delay in a proper diagnosis and prompt care resulted in me having a near-death experience in the emergency room. By the time I went to the hospital, my glucose was seven times the norm, and I was in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). DKA is essentially when the body turns toxic and begins shutting down, due to a build up of ketones from a lack of insulin.
What I later learned is that the virus had somehow turned on my Type 1 diabetes — a chronic disease with no cure that requires 24/7/365 management. It’s also an expensive disease. My insulin alone retails for $2,000 every three months.
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.
*Disclaimer: The advice on Mom.com is not a substitute for consultation with a medical professional or treatment for a specific condition. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem without consulting a qualified professional. Please contact your health-care provider with questions and concerns.
