Glucose, or sugar, is used by the body's cells for energy. Insulin is a hormone secreted by the pancreas that allows the glucose to be used by the cells. Without insulin, the cells have no way to access available glucose and cannot create energy, leaving the glucose to accumulate in the bloodstream. Diabetes mellitus type 1, formerly called juvenile onset or insulin dependent diabetes, is a condition in which there is too much glucose in the bloodstream because the pancreas produces little or no insulin. The condition causes high blood sugar and deprives cells of energy, which causes many symptoms.
Time Frame
Because the balance of glucose and insulin immediately begins to effect the body's level of energy and ability to efficiently function, symptoms of diabetes type 1 can develop quickly, over two to three weeks, as reported by The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. However, type 1 diabetes can also come on gradually, making the symptoms less obvious and harder to identify.
Early Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes
Because the kidneys' answer to high blood glucose levels is to flush the glucose out with urine, kids with type 1 diabetes will urinate larger volumes with greater frequency than normal. The loss of fluid causes the body to become excessively thirsty in an effort to ward off dehydration and maintain a balance of fluid. Often, kids with type 1 diabetes will fail to gain weight as they grow, or even lose weight. KidsHealth, an information site sponsored by the Nemours Foundation, reports that this happens as the body breaks down lean muscle and stored fat in an attempt to provide energy for the starving cells. Because the cells are deprived of energy, the child may experience significant fatigue.
Subtle Signs of Type 1 Diabetes
While excessive urination, excessive thirst and fatigue are hallmark signs of type 1 diabetes, more subtle signs can also point to the condition. According to KidsHealth, a child who has diabetes type 1 who has historically been dry at night may begin to wet the bed due to the kidneys' attempt to flush out the extra glucose. Diabetes should also be considered if a girl who has not gone through puberty yet begins to develop yeast infections.
Diabetic Ketoacidosis
When blood sugars rise ,the body begins to break down fat for energy. Fat breakdown, in turn, creates a byproduct called ketones that make the blood extremely acidic--acidosis. Acidosis plus the high blood sugar levels combine to develop diabetic ketoacidosis. Often, according to Penn State Children's Hospital, the symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis are among the first symptoms shown by a child with undiagnosed type 1 diabetes. The child may experience abdominal pain, followed by nausea and vomiting. Their skin may become flushed as they begin to take deep and rapid breaths. Confusion and restlessness also settle in. Because of the increased ketones in the body, their breath may take on a fruity odor. If this condition is not recognized and treated, the child may progress into a diabetic coma, a critical and life threatening situation.
Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes Symtpoms in Children
To control the symptoms of type 1 diabetes, the levels of glucose and insulin must be adjusted through medication and lifestyle changes--insulin, diet, exercise and weight maintenance. The child must be carefully monitored as she grows, and as activity levels wax and wane and growth increases or slows down. It is not unusual for a child newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes to be hospitalized until symptoms are controlled and blood sugar levels have returned to normal. The extent to which the levels of glucose and insulin are out of balance will determine the extent of the treatments.
