JAKARTA, investor.id – Do not ignore the red rash on the child’s back, hands and feet. Beware, it could be a sign of diabetes mellitus.
“Why are rashes also a sign of diabetes? Diabetic rash shows signs of increased blood sugar from normal levels,” said a pediatrician from Siloam Hospital Dr. Johanes Ari Cahyono Prabowo SpA contacted by Investor Daily, Tuesday (7/2/2023).
The mechanism, explained Dr. Johanes, is that high blood sugar will increase and extend the duration of inflammation through stimulation of inflammatory cells (macrophages). “So inflammatory cells are stimulated due to high blood sugar, so the red skin is a sign of inflammation,” explained Dr. Johanes.
The rash can usually appear on the back, hands and feet. This condition is experienced by Rama. When diagnosed at the age of 14, Rama often experienced rashes. “At that time the doctor suspected diabetes, but when he checked his blood sugar it was still normal. After that, diabetes was diagnosed when blood sugar jumped to 400 mg/dl,” said Elis, Rama’s mother.
Apart from rashes, the symptoms of diabetes in children are the same as diabetes in adults. Symptoms include increased amount and frequency of eating (polyphagia), increased drinking volume (polydipsia), increased urination (polyuria), marked weight loss over 2-6 weeks, tired child easily, and recurrent skin infections (rash).
If there are signs like that, Dr. Johanes emphasized, the child must be taken to the doctor immediately. The doctor will then suggest a number of examinations. There are 3 tests that must be done, namely fasting blood sugar, blood sugar 2 hours after fasting, and checking blood sugar hbA1c.
“This hbA1c examination is very important to determine whether the sugar level is normal or not. HbA1c indications can diagnose and monitor the success of diabetes mellitus therapy,” explained Dr. Johanes.
Dr. Johanes suggested that HbA1c measurements be carried out every 6 months if you have pre-diabetes. For treatment, initial therapy can be carried out by administering metformin and injecting insulin.
Metformin is taken every 12 hours with an initial dose of 250 mg and is evaluated every week. If necessary increase to a maximum dose of 1000 mg every 12 hours.
“Insulin injections are given basal insulin at night before going to bed and insulin fast acting (fast work) is given before breakfast, lunch and dinner,” said Dr. Johanes.
Editor : Mardiana Makmun (mardiana.makmun@investor.id)
