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Physical Signs of Diabetes in Children

According to the American Diabetes Association, about 1 out of every 400-500 children develops diabetes. Most often children are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Children with type 1 diabetes require insulin injections because their pancreas does not produce insulin. Insulin is needed to control blood glucose levels and to help the body to use glucose for energy. Some children may develop type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body either does not manufacture enough insulin or when the body becomes increasingly resistant to any insulin that is manufactured. Treatment for type 2 diabetes varies according to the severity of the condition.

  1. Increased Thirst and Urination

    • Children who are developing diabetes will usually be thirstier than normal. Also, they will need to urinate more often than usual.

    Increased Hunger and Weight Loss

    • The child may be hungrier than usual and eat more calories than he normally would. However, at the same time the child may experience weight loss.

    Other Symptoms

    • The child may be fatigued, have blurry vision and have more infections than usual, along with sores that heal more slowly than normal. Some children may develop acanthois nigricans, dark patches of skin in the armpit area and in the folds of the neck.

    Hypoglycemia

    • Children with diabetes may experience hypoglycemia if their blood sugar levels get two low. Hypoglycemia may occur after extreme physical exertion or after injecting too much insulin. Skipping meals may also result in hypoglycemia. A child with hypoglycemia needs to eat some type of carbohydrate, such as hard candy, to get blood sugar levels to go back up. Symptoms of hypoglycemia include trembling, sweating, dizziness, fatigue, headache, slurred speech and irritability. The child may appear pale and have a rapid heart beat. The child may also have difficulty paying attention.

    Hyperglycemia

    • Children with diabetes will experience hyperglycemia from time to time when their blood sugar levels get too high. If blood sugar levels stay too high for too long, the child may develop a serious condition known as diabetic ketoacidosis. Hyperglycemia is typically treated with insulin injections. Symptoms of hyperglycemia include excessive thirst and urination, fatigue, blurry vision and nausea.

    Diabetic Ketoacidosis

    • Children with prolonged high levels in the bloodstream may develop diabetic ketoacidosis. This condition occurs because the body's cells are not getting enough glucose, so it begins to use fat as an energy source. When fat is burned, waste products known as ketones are produced. Extremely high ketone levels can trigger diabetic ketoacidosis, which can lead to diabetic coma. The symptoms of this condition are nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, dehydration, sleepiness, trouble breathing and a breath that smells fruity.

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