Signs of Diabetes in Kids

The symptoms of diabetes may show up differently in the case of adults and children. The demonstration of the symptoms may differ according to its type. The signs of diabetes may come up more rapidly in the case of children and infants compared to adults. In the case of children and infants suffering from diabetes type 1- beta cells are destroyed at a greater pace. Children are usually found affected with ketoacidosis- a symptom of diabetes. In some other cases, diagnosis reports may indicate ketoacidosis or hyperglycemia during stress or infection.

Kids suffering from diabetes type 2 are usually obese or overweight. Some children may have family background of diabetes. Such kids generally show physical symptoms of insulin resistance such as dark patches of skin which is medically known as acanthosis nigricans. The symptoms of diabetes type 1 are different from diabetes type 2. The signs of diabetes in children often develop rapidly within a span of few weeks. Kids suffering from diabetes type1 may show the symptoms such as:

Frequent urination and increase in thirst: Due to excessive deposition of sugar in the bloodstream- blood cells extracts out fluid from the tissues. Excessive loss of fluid from the tissues and blood vessels can cause the child to feel thirsty. Thus kids may desire to drink more water. Since kids tend to drink more water, they frequently rush to washroom.

Extreme hunger/ increase in appetite: In such conditions, the child may often demand for extra food. They will complain about extreme hunger. Many times they will inform you that their hunger is not satisfied even after consuming food. Since the glucose obtained from food does not enter cells, but stays back in bloodstream and disturbs the immune system. This leads to loss of immense energy and shrinks the energy, which triggers extreme hunger in children.

Sudden weight loss: You may witness explained weight loss in kids - even after continuous consumption of food. Weight loss is caused due to insufficient supply of energy foods in their diet. Hence, they draw energy from reserved storage of fats. Excessive loss of body weight will cause a child to experience extreme tiredness and weakness. This will make your immune system weak, which will further invite numerous infections.

Extreme weakness: Due to insufficient supply of energy food, the child will experience lots of tiredness and weakness.

Yeast infection: Diabetes type 1 in babies also welcomes yeast infection. This may develop rashes on their skin. It is necessary to feed children with nutritional diet and make them drink plenty of water. They should drink at least ten to twelve glass of water in the entire day.

Blurred vision: The decrease in the level of fluid and blood from eye tissues will create difficulty with vision. The child is unable to see or may witness double objects.

Children are often not aware of various diseases and their symptoms. It is very necessary for parents to notice abnormalities in the child's health. Parents should inform about the importance of good health. As soon as their child shows the above mentioned signs of diabetes, immediately seek a medical attention.

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What Is Diabetes? What Causes Diabetes?

Diabetes, often referred to by doctors as diabetes mellitus, describes a group of metabolic diseases in which the person has high blood glucose (blood sugar), either because insulin production is inadequate, or because the body's cells do not respond properly to insulin, or both. Patients with high blood sugar will typically experience polyuria (frequent urination), they will become increasingly thirsty (polydipsia) and hungry (polyphagia).

There are three types of diabetes:

1) Type 1 Diabetes

The body does not produce insulin. Some people may refer to this type as insulin-dependent diabetes, juvenile diabetes, or early-onset diabetes. People usually develop type 1 diabetes before their 40th year, often in early adulthood or teenage years.

Type 1 diabetes is nowhere near as common as type 2 diabetes. Approximately 10% of all diabetes cases are type 1.

Patients with type 1 diabetes will need to take insulin injections for the rest of their life. They must also ensure proper blood-glucose levels by carrying out regular blood tests and following a special diet.

Between 2001 and 2009, the prevalence of type 1 diabetes among the under 20s in the USA rose 23%, according to SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth data issued by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). (Link to article)

2) Type 2 Diabetes

The body does not produce enough insulin for proper function, or the cells in the body do not react to insulin (insulin resistance).

Approximately 90% of all cases of diabetes worldwide are of this type.

Some people may be able to control their type 2 diabetes symptoms by losing weight, following a healthy diet, doing plenty of exercise, and monitoring their blood glucose levels. However, type 2 diabetes is typically a progressive disease - it gradually gets worse - and the patient will probably end up have to take insulin, usually in tablet form.

Overweight and obese people have a much higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to those with a healthy body weight. People with a lot of visceral fat, also known as central obesity, belly fat, or abdominal obesity, are especially at risk. Being overweight/obese causes the body to release chemicals that can destabilize the body's cardiovascular and metabolic systems.

The risk of developing type 2 diabetes is also greater as we get older. Experts are not completely sure why, but say that as we age we tend to put on weight and become less physically active. Those with a close relative who had/had type 2 diabetes, people of Middle Eastern, African, or South Asian descent also have a higher risk of developing the disease.

Men whose testosterone levels are low have been found to have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Researchers from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, say that low testosterone levels are linked to insulin resistance. (Link to article)

Measuring the glucose level in blood

3) Gestational Diabetes

This type affects females during pregnancy. Some women have very high levels of glucose in their blood, and their bodies are unable to produce enough insulin to transport all of the glucose into their cells, resulting in progressively rising levels of glucose.

Diagnosis of gestational diabetes is made during pregnancy.

The majority of gestational diabetes patients can control their diabetes with exercise and diet. Between 10% to 20% of them will need to take some kind of blood-glucose-controlling medications. Undiagnosed or uncontrolled gestational diabetes can raise the risk of complications during childbirth. The baby may be bigger than he/she should be.

Scientists from the National Institutes of Health and Harvard University found that women whose diets before becoming pregnant were high in animal fat and cholesterol had a higher risk for gestational diabetes, compared to their counterparts whose diets were low in cholesterol and animal fats. (Link to article)

Source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/info/diabetes/