Symptoms and Signs of Diabetes in Kids

To know if your child might be developing diabetes, watch for signs such as frequent urination, excessive thirst, bed-wetting, increased hunger, tiredness, blurry vision, and weight loss. 

If left untreated, diabetes can lead to serious health problems, such as damage to internal organs and low blood sugar. If your child starts dealing with exhaustion, vomiting, belly pain, quick breathing , or loss of consciousness, this could be a sign of a dangerous condition called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). You may need to get medical help right away.

A child can have diabetes without knowing. In the early stages, they might not show any symptoms. Doctors can test for five autoantibodies – proteins that attack your body’s healthy cells – in the blood to catch diabetes early. In Stage 1, a child might have two positive antibodies but still have normal blood sugar and no symptoms. In Stage 2, they may have two positive antibodies and abnormal blood sugar, but still no signs. Stage 3 is when symptoms appear. A diagnosis is usually made in this stage.

Insulin is a hormone that helps control the amount of sugar, or glucose, in your blood. In Type 1 diabetes, the body doesn’t make any insulin at all, so people need to get insulin from outside sources, like injections or a pump. In Type 2 diabetes, the body still produces insulin, but it doesn’t use it effectively, leading to elevated blood sugar levels. 

Type 1 diabetes is more common in children, while Type 2 is usually seen in adults. Both types can have similar symptoms, but Type 2 is more often linked to factors like obesity or family history. Changing diet or lifestyle can sometimes help reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes can be developed as early as 8 months, but it most appears between four and six years old or between 10 and 14 years old.

Type 1 diabetes cannot be entirely prevented. However, there are programs that allow individuals with a family history of Type 1 or without a family history of Type 1 to get tested. Researchers also are exploring ways to delay the onset of diabetes. For children aged eight and older who are in Stage 2 of Type 1 diabetes—characterized by abnormal blood sugar levels and the presence of two or more diabetes-related antibodies—a medication called TZIELD (teplizumab) has been shown to delay the progression to a full diagnosis by an average of two years.

Childhood diabetes, or Type 1 diabetes, is a condition that lasts for a lifetime and has no cure. It requires daily attention, like checking blood sugar levels, taking insulin, and managing what a child eats. This can be tough for both the child and their family to manage, so it is important to find support when needed. With proper treatment and a healthy lifestyle, a child with diabetes can live a happy and fulfilling life.

Consult your doctor if your child has excessive urination, drinking, and hunger, and is not gaining or losing weight. If your child has these symptoms and their random blood glucose is more than 200 mg/dl or their HbA1c is 6.5% or more, they need to see a diabetes specialist urgently.