Childhood Diabetes: Signs and Symptoms
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 that are diagnosed.
Kids With 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 the proper treatment methods.
Signs of Type I Childhood Diabetes
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 juvenile diabetes include extreme thirst, frequent urination, increased appetite or weight loss, sleepiness, labored breathing, sudden changes in vision and a sweet, fruity smell to the breath. Knowing the warning signs is the first step to saving 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.
Failing to diagnose juvenile diabetes can have devastating consequences. If the condition does not run in your family, you may not necessarily identify the importance of knowing every symptom. Frequent urination, excessive thirst, and blood glucose levels are the three main symptoms of childhood diabetes to watch for at all times.
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 pediatrician or family doctor can evaluate your child for other conditions as well, but it's essential to rule out the possibility of childhood diabetes. When the condition goes undiagnosed and an attack occurs, you and your child will be forced into dealing with an emergency situation.
Childhood Diabetes Health Risks
A long list of potential health problems is brought to light when a child is diagnosed with diabetes. Low blood sugar levels may cause your child to suffer with vision problems, kidney and liver complications and the risk of heart attack and stroke.
On the other hand, persistent high blood sugar levels can increase the possibility of infection (like an abscessed tooth or yeast infection), wounds that won't heal, gangrene from infected wounds and a host of other ailments. There may be nerve damage to the feet or other extremities. The result is intense pain and irreversible damage.
As you can see, childhood diabetes presents some very grown-up concerns. Ask your doctor to perform a blood screening. If your child is diagnosed, follow the treatment instructions carefully to help ensure the happy and healthy life that he or she deserves.