5 Most Prominent Symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes in Children

The symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes in children are very recognizable. Until the child is taken to the hospital and diagnosed, these signs will most likely come on very gradually for several weeks until it gets to the point that you know for sure that there is something wrong. One problem is that if you aren't aware that diabetes is an option, all you and your child know is that he or she just doesn't seem "right." It can be harder to determine in smaller children because they cannot effectively communicate how they feel. But if your child is exhibiting these symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes, it is most likely a good idea to get them to an emergency room immediately.

Unfortunately, the reason I became aware of these symptoms is that my son was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 2. The first sign that he exhibited was constant thirst. It first started out as wanting a cup of water at bedtime. It quickly turned into a 2-year-old being able to down a 20 ounce bottle of water in one gulp and then wanting another 10 minutes later. He would wake up every hour screaming for water. Later we found out from other Type 1 diabetics that you cannot imagine the thirst that comes from having untreated diabetes.

Due to this thirst, the body is of course going to need to get rid of the extra fluids. This leads to a frequency of urination that you cannot imagine unless you are going through it. Children in diapers will be soaked so bad that the insides of the diapers will burst through. One of the reasons for the constant thirst and constant urination is the presence of ketones in the body. Ketones are a toxic byproduct of fat burning, and since new diabetics burn more fat than usual, they will have too high of a level of ketones. The body does all it can to flush them out.

Since the body of a new diabetic is not burning as much sugar as it needs, it wants more food. Unfortunately, it will not get all it needs, and it will want more food. It's a cycle that continues until a diagnosis is made and treatment is made available.

However, don't be fooled by the excessive food intake. Since the body is burning more fat than usual, the child will lose weight. Or in some cases of younger children, you may find that their weight stays constant when they should actually be gaining weight as they grow. My son weighed 29 pounds shortly after his 2nd birthday. Five months later when he was diagnosed he still weighed 29 pounds.

If you notice that your child is always tired, or is too exhausted to join in social activities, this could be a symptom of Type 1 diabetes. My normally social son started hanging out against a wall with a sippy cup when he friends were playing.

While a formal diagnosis needs to be made by a doctor, there are two signs of diabetes in children that are easy to test for. The first is checking ketone levels. This can be done with ketone sticks that can be bought at any pharmacy. If any level other than "Negative" is shown, there could be a problem. Most undiagnosed diabetics that are nearing critical stage will have much higher levels of ketones. The second sign to easily check for is the glucose level. This can be done with a glucose meter and a prick of the finger. All of us know someone with diabetes, and you can simply borrow their equipment to check the glucose level in your child. Normal is 90-100, and if a number much higher than that is displayed, a trip to the emergency room needs to be made.

Watching your child become diabetic is scary. But knowing the symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes in children can help you get medical attention sooner.