Does your child feel thirsty frequently?

What are the symptoms of diabetes in children?

First, before we tell you about the symptoms of diabetes in children, let us explain a simple overview of it. It is a chronic condition, that is, a long-term condition in which the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood rises above its normal rate.

In a normal body state, the hormone insulin allows glucose to move into cells where it is used for energy.

There are two main types of diabetes:

• Type 1 diabetes: It is the most common type in children, and occurs because the body does not produce a sufficient amount of insulin, which causes high blood glucose levels.
• Type 2 diabetes: This type rarely affects children, and is caused by insulin resistance, meaning that it is secreted naturally but the body cannot use it.

Now that we have clarified Types of diabetesHere are some signs that your child may have it:

• Extreme thirst.
• Constant hunger.
• Sudden weight loss for no apparent reason.
• Frequent urination, and the child may wet the bed unusually.
• Blurred or blurred vision.
• Vomiting and nausea.
• Lethargy, feeling tired and weak all the time.
• Frequent exposure to infections (especially oral thrush).
• Bad breath.
• Irritability or mood swings.

If your child's blood glucose level is too high, he or she may develop a serious condition called Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), whose symptoms include: 

• التنفس السريع.
• Low blood pressure.
• تسارع ضربات القلب.
• Dry skin.
• Breath odor similar to fruity or acetone (nail polish remover).
• Stomach pain.
• القيء.
• confusion.
• Constant drowsiness.
• Loss of consciousness.

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a serious condition that needs immediate medical attention;

Read also:

• Can diabetes be detected without a test?

Is abdominal pain a symptom of diabetes in children?

Yes, abdominal pain and vomiting are digestive symptoms of diabetes in children, and these symptoms often appear when the blood sugar level rises significantly, reaching the stage of diabetic ketoacidosis, which usually occurs if the disease is not diagnosed early.

Abdominal pain in children with diabetes may also be accompanied by vomiting, bloating, nausea and diarrhea.

You can read an article: What is the normal blood sugar level?؟

What are the symptoms of diabetes in infants?

Diabetes in newborns or infants, or as it is known as Neonatal diabetes, is a rare condition, and it usually occurs within the first six months after birth.

Diabetes in infants is different from type 1, as type 1 is more common in children and occurs in those older than 6 months.

Half of all infants diagnosed with diabetes have a lifelong condition called permanent neonatal diabetes, which occurs in 1 in 260,000 babies globally.

As for the other half, the condition disappears within three months after birth, but it may recur later, and this is called transient or temporary neonatal diabetes.

When blood glucose levels rise too high, some of the glucose leaves the body through urine, which causes... Symptoms of diabetes in infants Which include:

• Increase the number of wet diapers.
• Increased appetite.
• Dry skin.
• Weight loss even with regular feeding.
• Vomiting that may last three or four days for no apparent reason.

Get to know: Symptoms of high blood sugar

When do symptoms of diabetes appear in children?

In most cases, diabetes symptoms appear in children after the age of five, but some do not develop any symptoms until they reach their late 30s.

Book your consultation now at Pediatric Center At Al Mousa Specialist Hospital.

هل يختفي السكر عند الأطفال؟

Neonatal diabetes (which occurs in newborns under six months) may disappear, as we mentioned previously. In this case, neonatal diabetes is transient or temporary, and disappears during the first year and mostly during the first three months after birth, and may return later in the future.

As for type 1 diabetes, unfortunately, it is a long-term condition for which there is no definitive treatment. Rather, treatment aims to maintain sugar levels within the normal range, and prevent any complications or health risks that may occur as a result of its high level.

How is diabetes tested in children?

If your child has signs and symptoms that may indicate... Type 1 diabetesThere are a number of tests that are used to confirm the diagnosis, including:

Random sugar test

 It is the initial test that doctors use to diagnose diabetes, and it involves taking a blood sample at a random time.

Fasting blood sugar test

The doctor takes a sample after your child fasts all night.

Test your blood sugar two hours after eating

 Also known as a blood sugar test, a blood sample is taken two hours after eating a meal, to evaluate the effect of food on blood sugar levels, and whether the child needs to change the insulin dose if he has already been diagnosed with diabetes.

Cumulative blood sugar test

 This test is intended to measure your child's average blood sugar level over the previous three months.

There are additional tests that can be used to determine if your child has it Type 1 or 2 diabetes, including:

Urine sugar test

To detect the presence of ketones that indicate type 1 diabetes.

The symptoms of diabetes in children, especially at the beginning, may be similar to symptoms of digestive problems or the onset of a cold.

Risk factors for type 2 diabetes in children 

Recently, the incidence of type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents has increased, and the factors that increase the chances of developing it in children are the following:

• Excessive obesity is one of the most prominent risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes for children and adults, as excess fat makes the body resistant to insulin. 
• Fat accumulation around the abdominal area. 
• Family history and genetic factor of the disease. 
• Lack of physical activity. 
• Excessive intake of sugars and processed foods. 

How to control and manage diabetes

Controlling diabetes requires constant adherence to the appropriate health guidelines and habits for the patient, whether children or adults. These habits may include the following:

• Follow a healthy, balanced diet that contains vegetables, fruits, whole grains and protein. 
• Reduce your intake of sugars and sugary drinks. 
• Eat healthy fats and avoid saturated fats, processed foods and fast food. 
• Organizing meals and their quantity throughout the day to maintain blood sugar levels. 
• Practicing appropriate exercise regularly, committing to daily activities that involve movement, and committing to walking daily. 
• Measure your blood sugar regularly, record the readings, and follow up with your doctor. 
• Adherence to prescribed medications and their appointments. 
• Monitor the emergence of any complications to be able to treat them early. 
• Get enough sleep to help the body regulate blood sugar levels. 
• Avoid any wounds or ulcers, especially in the limbs.  

What parents can do for children with diabetes

Trying to live with and control diabetes in children is not easy, and it requires cooperation between all family members as well as the school to help the child protect himself from complications and also the symptoms of diabetes in children, so parents try:

• Commitment to a healthy and balanced diet for the child. 
• Monitor and check the child's blood sugar level regularly. 
• Adherence to medication schedules and doses, whether oral medications or insulin. 
• Educate the child if his age allows him to be aware of the disease. 
• Keep the child away from sugars and processed foods. 
• Encourage the child to exercise regularly. 
• Avoid child overweight and obesity. 
• Periodic examinations and follow-up. 
• Educating the school and teachers about the child’s illness, signs of low or high blood sugar, and how to deal with it. 

Tips to avoid diabetes 

Because prevention is better than cure, we at Al Mousa Specialist Hospital advise you on some tips to prevent diabetes, which include:

• Avoid excess weight and obesity. 
• Follow a healthy, integrated diet rich in fiber and protein. 
• Maintain physical activity and avoid inactivity and lack of movement. 
• Regular examinations and follow-up, especially for those with a family history of diabetes. 
• Stop smoking or drinking alcohol. 
• Organize sleep schedules and get some warm sleep. 
• Drink enough water daily to maintain blood sugar levels. 

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if my child has diabetes?

Detecting the symptoms of diabetes in infants is not easy, but they are clearer in children aged two years and older, and most of the symptoms of diabetes in children are similar to both types I and type II diabetes. 

Symptoms of type 1 diabetes in children, resulting from the body’s inability to produce insulin, include the following:

• Excessive thirst, which is a common symptom of diabetes in children.
• Increased frequency of urination is one of the early symptoms of diabetes in children.
• Extreme hunger and increased appetite. 
• Sudden weight loss, despite eating large amounts of food.
• Loss of energy, lethargy and drowsiness.
• Bad smell of urine. 
• Bad breath.
• Feeling changes in vision, such as blurred vision or double vision.
• Snoring or difficulty breathing. 
• The child becomes stunned or loses consciousness. 
• Symptoms may also include the appearance of sudden and strange behavior in the child, such as behavioral problems and aggression.

While the symptoms of diabetes in children include type 2, which results from insufficient production of insulin, or failure to respond normally to insulin due to high insulin resistance.

 ما يلي:

• Frequent urination, especially at night.
• Excessive feeling of thirst.
• Unexplained weight loss.
• The child feels itching around the genitals, which may be accompanied by a fungal infection.
• Slow wound healing.
• Dry eyes and blurred vision.
• The appearance of acanthosis nigricans, which are dark velvety spots on the skin.

What is temporary diabetes in children?

It is diabetes insipidus or water diabetes in children that results from a low level of antidiuretic hormone, which helps the kidneys retain a healthy amount of water in the body, and also helps prevent the body from becoming dehydrated.

When the antidiuretic hormone decreases in the body, a lot of water is withdrawn and the amount of urine increases, which is called watery urine. 

The causes of temporary diabetes in children, as a result of a decrease in the antidiuretic hormone, are as follows:

• Disorder or damage to the pituitary gland.
• Brain injury.
• Brain tumor.
• Meningitis.
• Taking certain medications, such as lithium. 

How often does a child with diabetes urinate?

In general, there is no exact number of times a child with diabetes urinates, but he urinates more than a healthy child. Parents notice that the child urinates a lot, especially at night, and may wet the bed. The frequency of urination depends on several factors:

• Severity of disease. 
• Child's age. 
• The amount of fluids the child drinks. 
• The type of medications he takes to treat diabetes.