About Diabetes in Infants

Diabetes in infants is a serious condition in which the child's body does not produce insulin or the insulin it does produce is ineffective in the critical process of moving sugar from the blood to the cells.

Types

• Infants generally suffer from type 1 diabetes, in which the immune system misidentifies and destroys insulin-making beta cells. Rarely, infants develop type 2 diabetes, where the body is resistant to its insulin.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of diabetes in babies include excessive crying, exhibiting an unusual appetite and thirst, weight loss, wetting excessively and the presence of yeast infections in infant girls.

Following Diagnosis

• Parents must learn basic diabetic care, with glucose monitoring and learning to give injections being paramount. Educators must instruct caregivers in dose adjusting, schedules and nutrition.

Hypoglycemic Signs

• Watch for paleness, sweating, trembling or excessive crying, as these may indicate hypoglycemia (plunge in blood sugar). Take a glucose reading and give the infant fruit juice if it's low.

Warning

• Diabetes is often not discovered early due to its being relatively uncommon in infants and because its symptoms are often confused with other maladies. Insist on testing if you suspect this disease.