Thursday, 9 February 2023 | 03:29 WIB
By: Mardiana Makmun / FER
Obesity is a condition in which a person has excess body weight or body fat, what causes it?
Jakarta, Beritasatu.com – A pediatrician from Siloam Hospital, Dr. Johanes Ari Cahyono Prabowo SpA, said skin rashes in children are a sign of diabetes mellitus. The condition of a reddish rash can be found on the child’s back, hands and feet.
“Why are rashes also a sign of diabetes? Diabetic rashes show signs of increased blood sugar from normal levels,” said Dr. Johanes when contacted Investor DailyWednesday (8/2/2023).
The mechanism, said 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. Rama experienced this condition. When diagnosed at the age of 14, Rama often experienced rashes.
“At that time the doctor suspected diabetes. But, when checked blood sugar is still normal. After that, diabetes was diagnosed when blood sugar jumped to 400 mg/dl,” said Elis, Rama’s mother.
Apart from a rash, the signs of diabetes in children are the same as those of diabetes in adults. Signs include increased amount and frequency of feedings (polyphagia), increased drinking (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 three tests that must be done, namely fasting blood sugar, blood sugar two 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,” said Dr. Johanes.
HbA1c measurement, according to Dr. Johanes, is done every six 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 1,000 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.
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