Signs of Diabetes in Children

Talk to your doctor about the signs of diabetes in children if type 1 diabetes runs in your family or you notice that your child is often tired or thirsty.

Type 1 diabetes used to be called juvenile diabetes for a reason: It is often diagnosed before the age of 20, and childhood cases of diabetes account for about 11 percent of all diabetes cases. That means nearly 1 in every 400 children in the United States suffers from diabetes. Your child has about a 1 in a 100 chance of developing type 1 diabetes if there’s no family history of the illness. 

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Type 1 diabetes causes

Though the exact cause of type 1 diabetes is unknown, scientists believe it happens when the body’s immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.

Insulin is used to break down glucose from food into components the body can use; when this process stops, glucose builds up in the bloodstream and becomes dangerous. People with type 1 diabetes must inject themselves with insulin multiple times a day to regulate their blood sugar. 

Type 1 diabetes can be diagnosed at any age in a person’s life, including during infancy. It can be much harder to diagnose in children than adults, however, because children are less able to communicate how they are feeling to their parents or doctors. Signs of diabetes in children are often mistaken for other conditions, such as general infections, illness, or even normal teenage moodiness. 

To keep your child safe, it’s essential to know what symptoms can indicate  they have developed type 1 diabetes.

Is type 1 diabetes genetic?

It's probable that genetic and environmental factors play a role in what causes type 1 diabetes. Researchers have identified some genetic markers for the disease. It's also known that a predisposition for a child having type 1 diabetes is passed down through families.

Scientists don't yet know the inheritance pattern.

Signs of diabetes in children

Since diabetes is a disease that affects how the body processes food and nutrients, several of the symptoms to look for are related to your child’s diet and weight. Your child may experience an increase in appetite but begin to lose weight quickly despite how much he or she is eating. You may also notice that your child becomes much thirstier than normal and needs to urinate more frequently.

Other signs of diabetes in children are harder to notice or may be easily attributed to other factors. Your child may become tired or lethargic on a regular basis, feel physically weaker than normal, or become uncharacteristically restless or moody. 

Recurring yeast infections are often a sign of type 1 diabetes. Yeast colonies feed on sugar in the body, so an increased level of glucose in the bloodstream often leads to unhealthy levels of yeast as well. Yeast infections don’t just happen to girls; they can also occur in boys and babies.

Children with diabetes are also more prone to bacterial skin infections, such as styes or boils, as well as general skin itching, often on the legs.

If you notice your child squinting or having trouble reading, even that could be a warning sign. Many children with type 1 diabetes experience sudden changes in their eyesight after having excellent vision for years. 

When to talk to your child’s pediatrician

Symptoms of diabetes can appear slowly, or they may come on very suddenly. You may notice just one or two symptoms in your child, or they may suffer from several all at once. Watch for any symptoms or behavior that seems out of the ordinary and bring them to the attention of your child's doctor as soon as they appear. Waiting too long to talk to your child’s pediatrician can put your child at risk for seizures, a diabetic coma, or even death.

Your child’s doctor will be able to tell you if the symptoms you noticed are likely indicators of diabetes and may prescribe an oral glucose tolerance test to check if your child’s blood sugar levels are too high or low. If the test indicates that your child’s glucose levels are abnormal, the doctor will want to start treatment immediately.

Remember, you are your child’s best advocate when it comes to noticing new symptoms or unusual behavior. If you see anything out of the ordinary, regardless of whether it could have another cause, talk to your child's doctor immediately. 

Type 1 diabetes life expectancy

While people with type 1 diabetes are living longer, and the knowledge about their life expectancy still needs much improvement, significant gaps in mortality compared to the general population remain, according to a review of two large studies. Improving life expectancy for people with type 1 diabetes, researchers concluded, relies on better glycemic control, prevention of heart disease, and smoking cessation. 

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