Juvenile, or Type 1 diabetes is an extremely serious condition and being able to spot the warning signs and the symptoms could go a very long way in improving the quality of your child’s life. If left untreated too long, juvenile diabetes could lead to blindness, loss of limb, kidney failure, heart disease and nerve damage. Although being able to spot the symptoms of diabetes in children is very important, it can also be very difficult. This is because many of the symptoms are also just general characteristics of children. Here are some of the symptoms of diabetes and what to look for in your own child.
Frequent Thirst and Urination
Being extremely thirsty and having to urinate often are both symptoms of diabetes. Many children are very energetic. They are often involved in sports and so are thirsty more often. Sometimes they simply ask for drinks because they eat and drink out of sheer boredom. Because of this, parents sometimes don’t pick up on the fact that this could actually be a symptom of diabetes. This is something that may need to be checked out.
Many parents will also think that the frequent urination is due to the increased fluid intake. Unfortunately, because frequent urination is also a symptom of diabetes in children, this is also something to be taken seriously.
Frequent Infections and Slow Healing Time
One of the symptoms of diabetes in children is also frequent infections and cuts, and bruises that take a long time to heal. Again, many parents think that this is a normal part of childhood. They don’t realize that the bruise they’re looking at today is the same one as two weeks ago. In fact, children heal quite quickly normally. If you notice that your child often experiences infections or that they have many cuts and bruises that take awhile to heal, it could be a symptom of juvenile diabetes.
Extreme Hunger and Sudden Weight Loss
Parents don’t usually stand up and take notice when their children start to eat a lot because they attribute it to a growth spurt. However, when this is combined with a sudden weight loss, most parents will begin to understand that there’s a serious problem. Most parents will start to realize that something is wrong if their child loses weight all of a sudden. If a child is overweight, however, most parents are just happy that their bodies finally seem to be balancing out.
Blurred Vision and Tingling Sensations
Blurred vision and a tingling sensation in the hands and feet are also both symptoms of diabetes in children. Children are often more reluctant to tell their parents about these symptoms because they are not constant and they come and go. Because of this, parents should be extra vigilant about asking their children if they’re experiencing any of these symptoms. This is especially true when they notice other symptoms present.
