Diabetes, a chronic, life-threatening condition, affects 151,000 children in the United States under the age of 20, states the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Children typically develop type 1 diabetes, also called insulin-dependent or juvenile diabetes. However, since the late 20th century, an increasing number of children receive the type 2 diabetes diagnosis. With type 1 diabetes, the body stops producing insulin. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body produces too little insulin or the body resists the effects of insulin. Many diabetic symptoms are common to both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Hunger
A child with diabetes may be extremely hungry all the time, even right after eating. They may eat extra servings at meals or always ask for snacks. Without enough insulin to move sugars into the cells, the child's muscles and organs become depleted of energy, causing hunger, explains MayoClinic.com.
Weight Loss
Even when eating more to compensate for the child's constant hunger, the child might lose weight. According to MayoClinic.com, the body's stored fat and muscle tissues begin to shrink from lack of the sugars that supply energy.
Thirst and Frequent Urination
With diabetes, a child's body becomes unable to process the sugars properly. Sugar builds up in the body pulling fluid from the body's tissues, which results in thirst, says the University of Virginia Medical Center. A child with diabetes may drink more with meals than usual or request drinks in between meals. The more a child drinks due to thirst, the more the child needs to urinate so frequent trips to the bathroom may be indicative of diabetes.
Fatigue
As the cells lose needed nutrients, the child's body becomes tired with low energy levels, explains the University of Maryland Medical Center. A child with diabetes may sleep longer at night or take naps during the day. The fatigue may also cause irritability or behavioral issues.
Blurred Vision
According to MayoClinic.com, when a child's blood sugar levels become too high, fluid moves away from the tissue throughout the body, including the eyes. As fluid leaves the lenses of the eyes, vision becomes blurred and focusing is difficult.
Severe Symptoms
Diabetic coma, also known as ketoacidosis, can occur suddenly and if untreated may be fatal. Symptoms of ketoacidosis include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dehydration, drowsiness, abnormally fast breathing, dry mouth and skin, rapid pulse, fruity breath odor, low blood pressure and coma. The website KeepKidsHealthy comments that children who develop ketoacidosis are frequently admitted to the hospital for treatment including intravenous fluids and insulin.
