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Signs & Symptoms of Childhood Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 Diabetes is a form of diabetes that affects children. In this form of diabetes, the pancreas loses its ability to make insulin because the child's immune system begins to attack and destroy the insulin-producing cells. When this happens, those cells will no longer make insulin for the remainder of the child's life. Luckily, there are symptoms that manifest, which will help warn parents to a health problem in their child.

  1. Mild Symptoms

    • At the onset of this disease, a child will show symptoms that many parents mistake for other health issues. These symptoms are generally mild and may not actually mean that your child has Type 1 Diabetes. However, if your child begins to show these signs, you should take him to the doctor as soon as possible to determine the cause. The child in this stage of the sickness will urinate frequently because the kidneys will try to flush the extra glucose out the system. This may manifest itself as an increase in bedwetting, even if the child has not been a wetter before. Your child will also be thirstier to replace the lost water. Another sign is a weight loss in a child, even if he has a good appetite. Finally, your child may begin to feel fatigue because his body is unable to use the glucose in his system properly.

    Major Symptoms

    • If the early symptom systems aren't treated quickly enough, there will be a buildup of chemicals called ketones in your child's blood stream. This buildup will cause stomach pain, nausea and vomiting. It will also give your child's respiratory system issues, such as sweet-smelling breath (from the extra glucose), breathing problems and in some cases, loss of consciousness. Many parents attribute this to flu. Because of this, these symptoms often go untreated because the parents don't take their child in for a checkup. While these symptoms are indicative of a usual sickness, they will be preceded by the mild symptoms discussed above.

    Long-Term Signs

    • Diabetes, if left untreated, can cause massive long-term damage to your child's health. If she has this disease, she will be more at risk for heart disease and stroke. Type 1 diabetes can also cause kidney damage, vision impairment, gum issues, and nerve and blood vessel damage. These symptoms, however, are rare and generally begin to show up as the child moves into her late teens to early adulthood.

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