Diabetes refers to a group of conditions that affect the way the body responds to blood sugar, or glucose. According to the Centers for Disease Control, diabetes is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases affecting children and adolescents in America. Symptoms of diabetes vary but may include unexplained weight loss, fatigue, excessive thirst and frequent need to urinate. Early diagnosis and treatment of diabetes is key to preventing serious or long-term complications.
Types
Children may be affected by type 1 or type 2 diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, the body produces too little insulin. In type 2 diabetes, which may develop at any age, the body produces too little insulin or ignores insulin produced. Symptoms of type 1 and type 2 diabetes are similar; however, type 1 diabetes symptoms may appear suddenly, notes the American Diabetic Association, while type 2 diabetes symptoms may appear over time.
Common Symptoms
Though diabetes may affect children's bodies differently, certain symptoms are common.
These include increased thirst, excessive hunger, frequent need to urinate, unintentional weight loss, fatigue, vision problems, sores that heal slowly and frequent skin, yeast or bladder infections. The Mayo Clinic reports that a yeast infection may occur as the first noted symptom in girls with type 1 diabetes.
Misconceptions
Type 1 diabetes was formerly known as juvenile onset diabetes, since it appeared most often during childhood, while type 2 diabetes was rarely seen in children. But according to the CDC, type 2 diabetes in children is becoming continually more frequent. Since type 2 diabetes develops gradually, symptoms may go unnoticed, increasing risk for complications. For example, parents may attribute increased thirst and hunger to a child's growth spurts. Increased hunger or thirst, coupled with weight loss, however, may indicate diabetes. The CDC also suggests that, contrary to popular belief, children with type 1 diabetes may carry excess body weight.
Causes
Blood sugar imbalances cause symptoms of diabetes in children. According to the Mayo Clinic, blood sugar buildup in the bloodstream causes thirst and frequent urination. When the body lacks insulin, physical weakness and intense hunger may occur. Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, can cause fatigue and irritability. Unintentional weight loss may result from the body utilizing muscle and fat as energy when it cannot use glucose properly. Type 2 diabetes may reduce a child's ability to heal or fend off infections, which causes slow wound-healing. High blood sugar, or hyperglycemia, can cause fluid reduction in the eyes, resulting in blurry vision.
Complications
Childhood diabetes symptoms can lead to serious complications if left untreated. The Mayo Clinic warns that diabetes can adversely affect most of a child's vital organs, including the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves. Poorly controlled diabetes increase a child's risk for infections, heart disease, nerve damage, kidney damage or disease, foot damage, cataracts and blindness. As children with diabetes age, their risk for osteoporosis--weak bone density--increases.
Suggestions
A healthy dietary lifestyle and regular blood sugar monitoring can support wellness and prevent complications of diabetes in children. Since excess body weight and a sedentary lifestyle increase children's risk for developing type 2 diabetes, parents can take measures to prevent the disease from developing in the first place. Because complications of diabetes may be life-threatening, the Mayo Clinic suggests early diagnosis and careful adherence to doctors' recommendations.
