Failure to promptly recognize signs of hyperglycemia in children could result in potentially life-threatening complications, including a diabetic coma. Hyperglycemia is a medical condition characterized by the presence of high blood sugar in the body. Excessively high blood glucose levels could result from multiple conditions and problems, including diabetes, an improper diet, stress or a severe illness, such as chronic diarrhea, according to the "Textbook of Pediatric Emergency Medicine." Prompt diagnosis by a doctor is essential to discovering the cause of hyperglycemia before your child develops complications.
Increased Urination
Hyperglycemia often causes increased voiding in children. As an emergency protection method, your child's body tries to remove the excess sugar from the bloodstream. The kidneys filter the sugar from the blood, then send it to the bladder for transportation from the body along with other waste products. Some children with hyperglycemia make more frequent visits to the bathroom, while others void larger amounts of urine. "The Essentials of Nursing" explains that young children who have recently been toilet trained could start wetting the bed again as a result of hyperglycemia.
Increased Hunger and Thirst
Changes in your child's appetite and thirst level are key signs that she might suffer from excessively elevated blood sugar levels. Increased thirst results from the more frequent urination; more fluid exits the body, so your child's body experiences a stronger urge to drink water and other fluids. An unusual increase in appetite often develops in a child with hyperglycemia because the body can't access the sugar in the bloodstream as an energy source. Unable to use the sugar for energy, the body stimulates the appetite in an effort to gain access to alternative energy sources.
Weight Loss and Exhaustion
Weight loss and exhaustion could result in a child with hyperglycemia. These symptoms result directly from the body's inability to use the sugar coursing through the bloodstream. Sugar calories aren't absorbed by the body, which, over time, results in loss of weight when the body seeks stored energy from fat cells. Depending on the severity of the hyperglycemia, weight loss could be gradual or sudden. Exhaustion often shows itself as excessive fatigue or sleepiness, as well as unusual irritability or fussiness, according to "Pediatric Endocrinology."
Considerations
One of the dangers of hyperglycemia is that many children with slightly elevated blood glucose levels often don't show ongoing or persistent symptoms. If your child is already potty trained or goes to school on a daily basis, you may not be able to monitor her behavior and habits closely and could miss early signs of hyperglycemia. Develop the habit of talking to your child regularly and keeping the lines of communication open. Maximize your chances of spotting hyperglycemia promptly by asking her how she feels and encouraging her to tell you if something doesn't seem right in her body.
Diagnosis
If your child shows any signs of hyperglycemia, arrange a prompt appointment with the pediatrician. Be prepared to describe the exact symptoms your child experiences, as well as how long they have been taking place. In addition to discussing symptoms, the pediatrician typically conducts a physical examination and obtains a blood sample to determine your child's blood glucose levels. Depending on your child's symptoms, the doctor could refer her to a pediatric diabetes center for more specialized testing, diagnosis and treatment.
References
- "Textbook of Pediatric Emergency Medicine"; Dr. Gary Fleisher, et al.; 2010
- "Essentials of Nursing"; Barbara Kuhn Timby, RN et al.; 2004
- "Pediatric Endocrinology"; Dr. Mark Sperling, et al.; 2008
