As a parent, you should be aware of the symptoms of diabetes in a child so that you can watch for signs that your child may be affected. Parents who know that their child has an above average risk for diabetes because of family history or other factors should keep an especially close eye out for symptoms. Earlier treatment can often mean better health now and in the future.
Studies show that around 13,000 children in the United States develop diabetes each year. The process is often very gradual and it can be a while before symptoms appear or are noticed. Generally, children who develop type 1 diabetes have been a genetic predisposition and at least one other factor that contributes to the disease. Increasingly, type 2 diabetes has been also showing up in young people, particularly in those who are overweight for their age and height.
The classic symptoms of diabetes in a child include excessive thirst, urination, and hunger. These symptoms can just be normal childhood occurrences, making it difficult to know if you should seek medical testing. Other classic signs include weight loss, blurred vision, fatigue, and high blood sugar level. While the signs can happen rapidly, the disease has often had a gradual onset. If frequent drinking, urinating, and eating are companied by other signs, you should make an appointment with your doctor and you may still want to get things checked out even if those are the only symptoms.
If you child exhibits any of these signs, you should consult with a medical professional as soon as possible. Delaying treatment can cause serious health risks and even death so if you suspect that your child might have diabetes, it is imperative to seek treatment.
Some parents and children try to ignore symptoms, knowing that childhood diabetes often requires insulin injections. This can be a harrowing thought for both parents and children and a serious adjustment to normal life. Advances in the administration of insulin, however, may provide alternative ways to get insulin into the body. Research continues on way to create a useful oral insulin pill or ways to inhale insulin through the lungs.
If you see symptoms of diabetes in a child, you should have the child tested for diabetes. More and more children are developing the disease as weight issues and other environmental factors have become more prevalent in society. Delaying treatment or diagnosis could result in serious health problems or even death for your child so you should always have your child tested if you are concerned.
