Childhood Diabetes Symptoms and Warning Signs

• • Childhood diabetes is a relatively common condition affecting young people the world over. While this disease should be treated as serious, there have been great advances in medical treatments to help young diabetics lead more normal, comfortable lives.
On average, 30,000 Americans are diagnosed with diabetes each year. About 13,000 of these new cases are children. Broken down, that's 36 children every day, or about one an hour, that are diagnosed.

Type I Childhood Diabetes

Most diabetic children have Type I diabetes. Also known as "juvenile" or "childhood diabetes", this is a condition present at birth, in which the body does not produce insulin. Many people born with childhood diabetes are not diagnosed until their pre-or-early teens. Those born with the condition, including children, need to learn to the proper treatment methods.

Know the Warning Signs

Diabetic attacks can come on suddenly, even to those who have not been diagnosed, so it's crucial for parents to recognize the warning signs. If not properly treated, these attacks can have long-lasting consequences, and may cause death in extreme cases. Signs and symptoms of diabetes may include extreme thirst, frequent urination, increased appetite or weight loss, sleepiness, labored breathing, sudden changes in vision or a fruity smell to the breath. Knowing the warning signs can save a life.
Childhood diabetes may be mistaken for other illnesses. If you feel that your child has one or more of these symptoms, you must get immediate care. Insist that your doctor test your child for diabetes.
Failure to diagnose childhood diabetes can have awful consequences. However, if the condition doesn't run in your family, you may not automatically identify the need to know all the symptoms. There are three main symptoms of childhood diabetes to keep in mind at all times: thirst, frequent urination, and blood glucose levels. If your child seems unusually thirsty, makes frequent trips to the bathroom, or shows both of these signs, then his or her blood sugar may be high. A child that appears to be overly sleepy or lethargic, feels "clammy" or just doesn't seem right may benefit from a visit to the doctor for a simple blood or urine test.
Your family doctor or pediatrician may evaluate your child for other conditions as well, but it's important to rule out the possibility of childhood diabetes. If the condition goes undiagnosed and an attack occurs, you will be faced with sorting things out in an emergency situation.

Health Risks Associated with Childhood Diabetes

The diagnosis of childhood diabetes brings to light a long list of potential health problems that may affect your child. Where blood sugar levels are low, your child may suffer from vision problems, kidney and liver problems and an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Persistent high blood sugar levels, on the other hand, may increase the possibility of infection (from tooth abscess to yeast infections), wounds that won't heal, gangrene from infected wounds and a host of other ailments. Some children may suffer from nerve damage to the extremities, particularly the feet. This results in intense pain and irreversible damage.
As you can see, childhood diabetes presents some very grown-up concerns. Ask you doctor to perform a blood screening. If you child is diagnosed, follow the treatment instructions carefully to help ensure the happy and healthy life that he or she deserves.