An estimated 215,000 young people under age 20 in the U.S. have diabetes, reports the American Diabetes Association. Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children, teens and young adults. In fact, one in every 400 children and adolescents has type 1 diabetes. Sudden weight loss is one of many symptoms associated with the onset of diabetes in children.
Effects
Type 1 diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the body, specifically the pancreas, fails to produce the hormone insulin. Insulin is needed to transform sugar or glucose into energy to help the body perform daily functions. Both genetics and the environment may play a role in type 1 diabetes, but its exact cause remains a mystery, explains the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, or JDRFI.
Weight Effects
Type 1 diabetes in children may send mixed messages with regard to weight. On the one hand, a child may have a heartier than normal appetite but at the same time she may be losing weight. The curious combination of increased hunger and decreased weight occurs because the body breaks down muscle and excess fat in a quest to provide energy to weak cells.
Additional Symptoms
Weight loss despite eating plenty of food in and of itself may not necessarily indicate that a child has type 1 diabetes. Other warning signs of diabetes typically include drowsiness, abrupt vision changes, extreme thirst and frequent urination. Difficulty breathing and loss of consciousness are also possible. Talk to your child's doctor if you are concerned that your child's weight doesn't correlate with his food intake.
Considerations
It's a myth that children who are obese are at a higher risk of developing type 1 diabetes, according to the JDRFI. However, diabetic children who are overweight or obese are more susceptible to diabetes-related complications such as high blood pressure and kidney disease. Regular exercise can help manage weight and blood sugar levels. Blood glucose levels should be checked periodically throughout the day including before and after exercise.
