Abstract
Abstract: The purpose of this article is to describe diabetes diagnosed during the first 6 months of life. Neonatal diabetes, also known as congenital diabetes, presents a unique set of challenges for the pediatric healthcare provider. Neonatal diabetes is not type 1 diabetes. While the etiology of type 1 diabetes is multifactorial and includes genetic and environmental factors, neonatal diabetes is strictly a genetic condition. Management of children with neonatal diabetes, treatment of the disease, psychosocial considerations for the family, and nursing care required for this population are all included in this article. Unique issues related to the diagnosis of a genetic mutation resulting in a defect in the potassium channel are also discussed.