Diabetes is a condition in which blood sugar levels become unusually high. Early in life, the most common form of diabetes is called Type 1 diabetes, marked by little or no insulin production from the pancreas. This can cause a sudden increase in blood glucose levels, because insulin is necessary to pull glucose out of the blood.
Increased Thirst
One common symptom of diabetes in children is constant thirst, often coupled with increased urine output, according to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Children with diabetes have high levels of glucose in the blood. When the kidneys process the blood, they attempt to keep glucose out of the urine. However, elevated blood glucose levels can overwhelm this process, resulting in glucose appearing in the urine. In response to this, the kidneys increase the amount of liquid in the urine in an attempt to dilute the glucose. This increased urine output can lead to severe thirst as a result of dehydration.
Fruity Breath
Another symptom of diabetes in children younger than three is a fruity odor on the breath of the child. This is due to a condition known as diabetic ketoacidosis. When blood sugar levels become extremely high, the body turns some of the excess glucose into chemicals known as ketones, which are acidic. The appearance of ketones in the blood leads to the breath developing a fruity odor. Diabetic ketoacidosis is a medical emergency and requires immediate treatment.
Extreme Hunger
Infants and young children who have diabetes may also be constantly hungry, the Mayo Clinic says. This is because children with diabetes have little or no insulin in their blood, which makes it difficult for muscle cells to import glucose from the blood. This leads to the muscles being deprived of energy, which can cause signals to be sent to the brain that indicate a need for more food, resulting in constant hunger.
Poor Growth
Infants with diabetes struggle to grow, the Journal of the American Medical Association says. This is because the body is unable to efficiently use glucose for the production of energy, due to an inability to pull glucose out of the blood. This makes it difficult for the body to grow and develop and can lead to the infant not growing at the normal rate, resulting in low body weight and height early in life.
Heavy Breathing
Children who develop diabetic ketoacidosis begin breathing more rapidly in an attempt to reduce the acidity of the blood. Children with diabetes may also have a harder time breathing due to weakness of the muscles necessary to breathe as a result of glucose depletion.
Stupor
Children with diabetes may also display stupor or unconsciousness, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation says. Although this can be more difficult to detect in children younger than 3, it may manifest as difficulty in paying attention to moving objects, faces, or responding to voices.
