DIABETES

Introduction

Across the world, Neonatal (or congenital) diabetes mellitus (NDM) is likely to affect 1 in 90,000-1,60,000 born babies. This form of diabetes is diagnosed in babies under the age of nine months.

What Is Neonatal Diabetes?

As a baby is born, for cells to make energy, the body needs insulin. Having said, babies who have neonatal diabetes are not in a position to produce enough insulin and this increases their blood glucose levels.

Neonatal diabetes is different from type-1 diabetes. However, this condition can be treated. Usually, genetic testing is recommended for this condition.

This type of diabetes is a genetic disorder and so far there is no way to prevent this condition.

Types

The two types of neonatal diabetes are transient neonatal diabetes and permanent neonatal diabetes.

As the name suggests, permanent neonatal diabetes lasts lifelong. Whereas, transient neonatal diabetes stays only until the baby turns 1.

However, there are chances for it to come back when the baby grows up to be a teenager.

Facts

1. When there is a change in genes and insulin production is affected, the blood glucose levels rise high.

2. Neonatal diabetes is usually diagnosed within 6 months.

3. Individuals with neonatal diabetes have issues during their developmental phase. For instance, the baby experiences weakness in the muscles and has learning difficulties.

4. 50-60% of individuals suffer from transient neonatal diabetes.

5. 40-50% of individuals suffer from permanent neonatal diabetes.

Symptoms

l Dehydration l Frequent urination l Baby feeling constantly thirsty l Weight loss l Unexplained vomiting Based on the affected gene, at times there can be a number of health complications and neonatal diabetes can lead to death too.

Further, here are some more complications linked with neonatal diabetes.

l Low birth weight l Learning disabilities l Developmental delay l Epilepsy l Having a larger than normal tongue

Diagnosis

Before the age of 9 months, genetic testing for neonatal diabetes is done. Here, a proper blood glucose test is done.

Treatment

For the most part, there are two ways of treating neonatal diabetes. Either a drug named glibenclamide is given or through insulin.

50% of babies suffering from neonatal diabetes are given glibenclamide. The purpose of giving this drug is to enable the pancreas to release sufficient insulin.

That being said, there is no treatment for transient diabetes. The child is thoroughly checked during teenage to see if the condition reoccurred.