Diabetes mellitus is the third most common chronic disease in children and adolescents and requires constant monitoring and treatment.
The main topic of Curaden Academy’s webinars was oral health & diabetes. Within spreading the awareness of the disease Curaden’s business developer Tom Huigen has shared the story of his son and how the condition influences daily life for the whole family.
At 9 months old, Tom’s son Roef was one of the youngest patients in the Netherlands to be diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. According to Tom, consistent follow-up is crucial, not only to ensure good systemic and oral health, but also to provide a structure in which a child can be a child.
“We found out that Roef had diabetes when he was about 9 months old. We were on a family holiday in Italy and noticed that he was drinking absurd amounts of water, one bottle after the other. Looking back at pictures of him then, his mom and me can see that he looked weak, but at the time, being right in the middle of the situation and given the summer heat, it was harder to realise something was off. After we got home and he remained irritable and moody, we went straight to hospital, where the doctors determined a blood glucose level of 30 mmol/l and a diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes,” Tom explained.
“You go from a spontaneous to a life where every activity is planned, and you are carrying around medication wherever you go.”
In total, Roef spent a week in hospital in order to bring his dehydration under control and stabilise him. “I barely knew a thing about diabetes at the time, let alone the impact it would have on us as a family,” Tom said. “Everything needs to be structured: eating at fixed times, calculating the amount of carbohydrates and insulin for each meal. You go from a spontaneous to a life where every activity is planned, and you are carrying around medication wherever you go.”
In the short period after diagnosis, the pancreases of people with Type 1 diabetes continue to produce insulin for a while, albeit in a decreasing fashion, making it difficult to calculate insulin requirements. “For a period of about two or three months, it was hard to estimate the exact amount of insulin needed,” Tom recalled. “Luckily, we had a weekly meeting with a paediatric nurse specialised in diabetes, who went through the insulin doses and blood glucose levels with us.”
“For a period of about two or three months, it was hard to estimate the exact amount of insulin needed.”
“In the beginning, we had to test his blood glucose level every 2 hours by hand and inject insulin with a pen. Now that Roef is older, he needs somewhat higher doses, so we’ve started using an insulin pump, which he carries on his leg 24/7. The pump provides a shot of insulin every hour. He carries a sensor on his arm that measures his blood glucose levels, which are sent to our phones so that we know when additional insulin is needed.
However, if the levels are too low, the pump needs to be turned off as compensation. The first two years are really about figuring everything out. Somewhere along the way through, you develop a feeling for it, and in the end, you know your child best.”
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A number of oral health problems have been associated with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus, such as gingivitis and periodontitis, dental caries, salivary dysfunction, oral mucosal diseases, candidiasis, as well as taste and neurosensory disorders. So, properly managing diabetes to avoid oral health problems and vice versa is essential.
“Yesterday, Roef had a blood glucose level of 3, which is scary when you bear in mind that 2 is coma-inducing. These acute situations are part of life, including at night. Being able to respond quickly is important. When his blood glucose is too high, his health can suffer. In the worst case, poorly controlled diabetes can affect the organs and lead to a number of problems, including oral health problems.”
“Parents need to make sure that they get a dentist who is familiar with how diabetes interacts with oral health and is able to prevent or treat problems effectively.”
“Roef is 4 years old now, and working in the field of oral health, I am well aware that managing his diabetes is the best way possible to ensure a healthy mouth. He has all his primary teeth, and we go to the dentist twice year. This is especially important as he gets extra dextrose some nights, so we are aware that theoretically he is at higher risk of caries. So far, things are looking great. Parents need to make sure that they get a dentist who is familiar with how diabetes interacts with oral health and is able to prevent or treat problems effectively.”
According to Tom, the main priority is making sure Roef has the life of any other child. “We do not want him to be at an advantage or disadvantage because of his diabetes. He does the same as any other kid and is not seen differently by other kids. Roef’s mom and I have chosen not to forbid him from doing or eating certain things, which requires a lot of planning and discipline from our side.”
Tom’s last piece of advice? “I would advise parents to educate themselves on the different treatments, medications and devices. Make your voice heard with doctors and hospitals so that your child gets the best treatment. In the end, diabetes should not be an issue for the child, but this requires discipline from the parents.”
Source: Dental Tribune International
