Juvenile onset diabetes, more commonly known as type 1 diabetes, is a metabolic disorder caused by insufficient insulin. The illness occurs when an immune system attack on the pancreas destroys the insulin-producing beta cells. Body tissues require insulin to absorb and utilize sugar or glucose. Insufficient insulin leads to a substantially elevated blood glucose level. The symptoms of juvenile onset diabetes reflect the simultaneous occurrence of blood sugar overload and energy deprivation in the tissues.
Increased and Persistent Hunger
Although the blood sugar level is markedly elevated with the onset of type 1 diabetes, lack of insulin prevents the body's cells from absorbing and utilizing it. The body tissues are starved of their primary nutrient, which triggers the hunger center in the brain. Children presenting with type 1 diabetes exhibit a marked and persistent increase in hunger, advises the University of Virginia Health System. No matter how much or how often they eat, children with untreated type 1 diabetes cannot seem to get enough food. Polyphagia is the medical term for increased food consumption. This symptom is easily noticeable by parents, although it may be dismissed as a normal part of growth.
Increased Urinary Frequency and Volume
The elevated blood glucose level in children presenting with type 1 diabetes causes high concentrations of sugar in the urine. The presence of urinary sugar precipitates significant water loss through the kidneys. The volume of urine produced increases substantially as a result. The American Diabetes Association notes that increased urinary frequency is a classic symptom of new onset type 1 diabetes. In young children who have recently achieved bladder control, the increased urinary volume may cause a return of daytime wetting accidents or bedwetting.
Increased Thirst and Fluid Consumption
Marked water loss due to the presence of sugar in the urine causes a fluid deficit in the body. The brain responds by stimulating increased thirst (dipsesis). The normal response to excessive thirst is increased fluid consumption (polydipsia). The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals states that polydipsia is a classic symptom of type 1 diabetes. Because the water loss via the kidneys is ongoing, the child's thirst remains excessive despite increased fluid intake.
Unexplained Weight Loss
Weight loss is a prominent symptom of new onset juvenile diabetes, notes the Mayo Clinic. Weight loss occurs because the body cannot utilize consumed sugar in the absence of adequate insulin. The occurrence of weight loss in the face of significantly increased food consumption is perplexing and often prompts parents to seek medical attention.
Fatigue
The National Diabetes Education Program explains that fatigue is a common presenting symptom of type 1 diabetes. This symptom often catches the attention of parents because it stands in stark contrast to children's typical high-energy state. Fatigue occurs because the body tissues are starved for energy-producing sugar due to lack of circulating insulin.
References
- American Diabetes Association: Symptoms
- National Diabetes Education Program: Overview of Diabetes in Children and Adolescents
- Mayo Clinic: Type 1 Diabetes in Children, Symptoms
- University of Virginia Health System: Type 1 Diabetes
- Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals: Diabetes Mellitus, Signs and Symptoms
