By Rachel O’BrienA suburban orthodist says you can tell if a child is insulin-dependent by checking a simple blood test.
But the doctor says the simple test is a little more complicated than you think, and the results can be more difficult to interpret.
Dr. Paul Smith, who is a suburban orthopaedic surgeon at the University of Wisconsin, says his team is using the blood test to diagnose diabetic children in the United States and abroad.
He says the test can be used to tell the difference between children who have normal insulin levels and those who have a higher level.
But it’s not a magic bullet.
“You have to know what insulin levels are, how high you have it, the type of insulin you’re taking, and how much insulin you are getting,” Smith said.
If you suspect a child has a diagnosis of diabetes, Smith says, the best thing you can do is tell the child’s doctor and let them know what they should do to treat it.
If a child does have a diabetes diagnosis, they need to follow the same steps the doctor recommends.
Dr Smith says if a family is trying to determine if their child is diabetes, they should get their doctor’s advice and follow the recommended treatment plan.
If the family has a child with a diagnosis, the pediatrician and pediatric endocrinologist will tell the parents how to manage their child’s diabetes.
