Childhood Diabetes Care in Sharjah

What is childhood diabetes care?

Childhood diabetes care is the recognition, diagnosis and long-term support of a child whose blood sugar runs too high. Most children with diabetes have type 1 diabetes, in which the immune system stops the pancreas making insulin, the hormone that moves sugar from the blood into the body's cells. Type 1 diabetes happens to children of every weight and every diet, and it arises from the immune system rather than from sweets, sugary drinks or anything a parent did.

Type 2 diabetes, in which the body makes insulin but responds to it poorly, is increasingly seen in older children and teenagers who carry excess weight. As childhood weight gain has become more common in the UAE, pediatricians look for type 2 diabetes more often than in the past.

At Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah, childhood diabetes care is shared between two teams. Your pediatrician in the Pediatrics and Neonatology department recognises the signs, confirms the diagnosis and arranges urgent care when needed. A specialist pediatric diabetes team, to which your pediatrician refers you, starts and adjusts insulin and teaches the daily skills. Your pediatrician then continues your child's general care alongside that team.

Who needs it

Childhood diabetes care is for children with signs of diabetes, children already diagnosed, and teenagers whose weight, family history or blood tests suggest a higher risk of type 2 diabetes.

The warning signs of type 1 diabetes are often remembered as the four Ts:

• Toilet: passing urine much more often, or new bedwetting in a child who was dry at night
• Thirsty: drinking far more than usual and still feeling thirsty
• Tired: unusual tiredness, low energy or a drop in concentration at school
• Thinner: losing weight despite eating normally or more than usual

New bedwetting in a child who had been dry is one of the most commonly missed early signs. Parents often put it down to stress or a new sibling. If it comes with thirst or tiredness, a simple finger-prick blood sugar test at the clinic gives an answer the same day.

If your child has any of these signs and is also vomiting, has tummy pain, is breathing deeply or quickly, has breath that smells fruity or like nail-polish remover, or is unusually drowsy, go to the emergency department now. These are signs of diabetic ketoacidosis, a serious complication that needs hospital treatment the same day. The Children's Emergency page explains what happens on arrival.

What happens

Your pediatrician asks about symptoms, weight, family history and your child's general health, then examines your child. A finger-prick test checks blood sugar within minutes, and a urine test looks for sugar and ketones, substances the body makes when it burns fat for fuel in place of sugar. Blood tests confirm the diagnosis and help show whether the diabetes is type 1 or type 2.

When type 1 diabetes is confirmed, the next step is prompt referral to a specialist pediatric diabetes team. That team starts insulin, sets the plan for checking blood sugar, and teaches you and your child how to give insulin, recognise low and high sugar, count carbohydrates and manage sick days. Decisions about insulin pumps and glucose sensors are also made with that team.

Your pediatrician at Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah provides shared care alongside the specialist team:

| Your pediatrician | The specialist diabetes team |
|---|---|
| Recognises symptoms and confirms diagnosis | Starts insulin and adjusts doses |
| Arranges urgent care when your child is unwell | Teaches daily diabetes skills and carbohydrate counting |
| Vaccinations, growth checks and general illness | Sick-day rules and hypo plan |
| School letters and coordination | Technology such as pumps and sensors |

For older children with type 2 diabetes, the plan focuses on activity, family eating habits and sleep, with medicines decided by the specialist team where needed. Growth is followed through growth and development checks.

Preparing for it

Before the first appointment, write down what you have noticed and when it started: extra drinking, night-time toilet trips, weight change, tiredness or mood change. Bring any recent blood or urine results and your child's vaccination record. Mention any family history of diabetes, thyroid disease or coeliac disease, which often run together.

If your child already has diabetes, bring the care plan, blood sugar records and contact details for the specialist team, so both teams share the same picture.

Afterwards

Families usually find the first weeks the hardest, and confidence grows with practice. Your child's school needs a written diabetes care plan, and the school nurse should know the signs of low blood sugar: shakiness, sweating, paleness, irritability, confusion or sudden tiredness. Follow the hypo plan from your specialist team whenever these appear.

In the UAE summer, heat changes how quickly insulin is absorbed and can spoil insulin left in a hot car or bag. Keep insulin in a cool bag when out and take it with you rather than leaving it in a parked car. During Ramadan, children with type 1 diabetes are generally advised to keep eating normally, and any decision about fasting is made with the specialist diabetes team well before Ramadan begins.

Contact your pediatrician or the specialist team if your child has frequent low sugars, repeated high readings, a new illness, or is eating poorly. If your child with diabetes is vomiting and cannot keep fluids down, is breathing fast or deeply, or becomes drowsy or confused, go to the emergency department straight away.

Cost and insurance

Most UAE health insurance plans cover pediatric consultations, blood and urine tests, and referral to a specialist diabetes team for children. Insulin, testing strips, sensors and pumps are often covered with pre-approval, and cover for technology varies widely between plans. Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah can help you confirm your cover on 06 599 7777.