According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in every 400 to 600 children or adolescents suffers from type I diabetes. The exact cause of this condition is unknown. It is believed, however, that the immune system erroneously identifies insulin-producing cells in your child's pancreas as pathogens and destroys them. In absence of insulin, the child develops type I diabetes.
Excessive Thirsty
When your child suffers from type I diabetes, he will urinate frequently. In order to keep the water level normal in his body, he will drink large amount of water and fluids. When your child starts drinking a large amount of water and is urinating frequently, this might be an early indication of onset of juvenile or type I diabetes.
Frequent Urination
There is a high level of glucose in the blood stream when your child suffers from type I diabetes. The kidney flushes out the extra glucose in urine, thus your child tends to urinate in larger volumes and more frequently. This is one of the initial signs of type I diabetes in your child.
Weight Loss
One of the early symptoms of type I diabetes in your child can be weight loss. This is when your adolescent is mysteriously unable to put on weight compared to her peers. If your child is saddled with this type of diabetes, she will lose weight in spite of increased appetite. This condition is called polyphagia. In order to provide energy to the cells within your child's body, her body targets the stored fat and the muscles to provide nutrition to the cells, which leads to loss of weight.
Tiredness
Type I diabetes is characterized by inability of your child's body to synthesize or produce energy, which results in fatigue and tiredness. He can suffer from anaemia, which may make his skin appear pale. In spite of an increased appetite and digesting extra portions of food, his body cannot utilize the glucose to generate energy and this is the reason for his lack of reduced physical activity. This also can lead to a state of lethargy and a depressed mood.
Altered Vision
Your child's vision can be altered if she is suffering from type I diabetes. This occurs because glucose level in her is fluctuating. The shape of the lens in the eye changes due to high glucose levels. This often leads to blurred vision. If your child suddenly experiences weak eye sight, you need to have a blood glucose test completed.
