No one wants to hear from a doctor that their child has a chronic condition that he'll never outgrow. Before insulin, many children with type 1 diabetes would live less than a year. Medical advances have since provided children with full and happy lifestyles while teaching families how to better manage the disease. There are many websites, cookbooks and chat rooms arming parents with valuable information to help keep their diabetic children as healthy as possible.
Type 1 diabetes is typically discovered during childhood. According to the Mayo Clinic, here are the signs and symptoms of type 1 diabetes in children.
Symptoms
- Increased thirst and frequent urination. As excess sugar builds up in your child's bloodstream, fluid is pulled from the tissues. This may leave your child thirsty. As a result, your child may drink – and urinate – more than usual.
- Extreme hunger. Without enough insulin to move sugar into your child's cells, your child's muscles and organs become depleted of energy. This triggers intense hunger.
- Weight loss. Despite eating more than usual to relieve hunger, your child may lose weight – sometimes rapidly. Without the energy sugar supplies, muscle tissues and fat stores shrink. Unexplained weight loss is often the first symptom to be noticed.
- Fatigue. If your child's cells are deprived of sugar, he or she may become tired and lethargic.
- Irritability or unusual behavior. Children with undiagnosed type 1 diabetes may suddenly seem moody or irritable.
- Blurred vision. If your child's blood sugar is too high, fluid may be pulled from the lenses of your child's eyes. This may affect your child's ability to focus clearly.
- Yeast infection. A genital yeast infection may be the first sign of type 1 diabetes in a girl.
In babies and young children, the first indication of type 1 diabetes may be a yeast infection that causes a severe diaper rash that's far worse than the common red, puffy and tender skin rash. In young children and infants, lethargy, dehydration and abdominal pain also may indicate type 1 diabetes.
Managing a child's blood sugar is a round-the-clock commitment; even having to make sure the child's sugar doesn't drop too low during the night causing the child to slip into a coma or even death. Another major concern is when the child falls ill to common viruses such as the flu or stomach ailments. Keeping a child's sugar regulated during vomiting or diarrhea can be more than a challenge. Parents are generally taught early on how to manage sick days with the disease.
These days families living with diabetes can find more and more nutrition options right in their grocery store. Parents and children learn quite quickly how to make better choices, count carb intake and adjust medication accordingly. Nakia Gelsinger from Alabama, mom to a diabetic child, has learned quite quickly about making better choices. "Instead of a regular Capri Sun, we will choose a Roaring Waters, they even have natural fruit roll ups now that are healthier and have less carbs. Sugar Free Jello, and sugar free pudding cups are available, cheese and lunch meat are free (no carbs). There are so many things available now giving you healthy choices."
Talk to your doctor immediately if your child suffers from extreme hunger or thirst, blurred vision or is losing weight for unknown reasons. To learn more about type 1 diabetes, visit the resources below. This article is for information purposes only and not intended to replace professional opinion.
Online Resources
Val Blakely - I am a stay-at-hom mom to two deaf children who hear with cochlear implants. I love to write and do this in my spare time as often as ...
