Growth Hormone in Kids Linked to Risk of Diabetes
continued...
"We're seeing a real surge in type 2 diabetes in adolescents," Gitelman tells WebMD. "It's really reaching epidemic proportions. So we have this background where children are at increased risk as a result of ethnic diversity in our country and increased obesity, increased sedentary lifestyle, etc. And then on top of that you give a drug known to influence [glucose] metabolism and exacerbate insulin resistance. Given that background, it's not surprising that you are going to see a tendency toward more kids with diabetes."
But Gitelman says the possibility of diabetes developing during growth hormone treatment should always be discussed with parents, and if diabetes does develop, the shots either can be discontinued or the doses can be adjusted so as not to interfere with the diabetes.
Vital Information:
- Growth hormone treatments are prescribed to children whose pituitary glands do not make enough of the hormone for normal growth, but some uses of the medication are controversial.
- A new study shows that children taking growth hormone are six times as likely to develop type 2 diabetes, when compared to healthy children not taking the hormone.
- Experts are unsure what to make of these findings, as many of these children are already at risk of developing type 2 diabetes and the growth hormone may serve only to hasten its onset.
Is This Normal? Get the Facts Fast!
Answer:
0-69
70-130
131+
Your level is currently
If the level is below 70 and you are experiencing symptoms such as shaking, sweating or difficulty thinking, you will need to raise the number immediately. A quick solution is to eat a few pieces of hard candy or 1 tablespoon of sugar or honey. Recheck your numbers again in 15 minutes to see if the number has gone up. If not, repeat the steps above or call your doctor.
People who experience hypoglycemia several times in a week should call their health care provider. It's important to monitor your levels each day so you can make sure your numbers are within the range. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.
Congratulations on taking steps to manage your health.
However, it's important to continue to track your numbers so that you can make lifestyle changes if needed. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.
Your level is high if this reading was taken before eating. Aim for 70-130 before meals and less than 180 two hours after meals.
Even if your number is high, it's not too late for you to take control of your health and lower your blood sugar.
One of the first steps is to monitor your levels each day. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.
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