Diabetes is often known to be an autoimmune disorder and is of two main types. Type 1 diabetes mostly affects children. Hence, it is also known as juvenile diabetes. In this article, we shall analyze how you as an adult or a parent, can spot the early signs of diabetes in babies and toddlers.
So, come and join in for the article “How to Spot Early Signs of Diabetes in Toddlers?”
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Early Signs of Diabetes in Toddlers
Toddlers are often affected with type 1 diabetes in which the pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin in the body. This type of diabetes is diagnosed mostly when your child is somewhere around 10 to 13 years of age. Although the signs and symptoms in toddlers and infants may not be easily noted, you should consult your pediatrician immediately when you notice the following in your toddler.
Also, do remember that once diagnosed, type 1 may not be reversible but you should not forget that your child can still live a normal life if you are able to manage the condition effectively with a few lifestyle changes.
The following are some of the early signs of diabetes in toddlers
Fatigue
The child is seemingly too tired. In healthy toddlers, the food we eat is broken down into sugar which is then absorbed by the body and the same is converted into energy. In a toddler who has pediatrics diabetes, the same is not true. Glucose is not turned into energy resulting in fatigue.
Yeast Infections
Another important sign of diabetes that you should not miss in your toddler is the yeast infection. This may be difficult to spot in the first place. However, when you see that your child is getting frequent rashes whenever you take the diapers out, you may get a hint that the child has diabetes.
Smelly Breath and Urine
When your toddler’s body is trying to excrete all the unwanted glucose that has been accumulated in the body owing to diabetes, the breath, as well as the urine of the child, will have a peculiar fruity smell. You need to spot that and should, at no cost, ignore the different smelling breath or urine.
Extreme Hunger
In diabetes, the glucose is not able to convert into energy. As a result, the cells and the muscles of the body are tired and they want more and more food at all times. The organs want this energy to function properly and the lack of the same causes extreme hunger in the toddler.
Weight Loss
The loss of weight in toddlers who suffer from diabetes comes all of a sudden and is quite rapid. The body is not able to convert the glucose into the much- needed energy, leading to sudden weight loss in spite of the child feeling extremely hungry at all times.
Extreme Thirst
When you have something like diabetes, you feel thirsty at all times. As the blood glucose levels increase, the body tries to get rid of this by excreting it out. In the entire process, important fluids are also excreted out of the body, the result being that your toddler faces an unquenchable thirst at all times.
Urination
Another most common sign which helps you identify that your toddler may be suffering from diabetes is the sudden volume of urine that his or her body produces. The problem of frequent urination becomes all the more intense, particularly during the night hours. When you drink more water and other fluids, the need for more and more urination naturally increase.
Changes in the Eyesight
Another important sign that may help you guess that your child might be suffering from what is known as diabetes, is that he or she may be going through blurred vision. When the body tries to get rid of the excess glucose through excretion, all the important fluids from other body tissue are also taken out. Eyes are therefore also affected, leading to blurred vision in the child.
Diabetic Ketoacidosis
If your child has had undiagnosed diabetes for a long period of time, he or she may start suffering from what is known as diabetic ketoacidosis. When your child’s body does not have enough insulin that can convert the glucose from food into energy, it starts breaking down the fats to generate energy. In this process, the ketones are built up in the body. These ketones are acidic in nature and lead to a change in the pH level of the blood. This condition is known as diabetic ketoacidosis and is quite fatal.
The above are the signs and symptoms which help you recognize that your child might be suffering from diabetes. The above-mentioned symptoms appear in your toddler quickly and the process is very sudden. You need to be very observant and pro-active. If you notice any such symptom, it will be wise to consult your pediatrician then and there.
If you diagnose the onset of diabetes quickly, the disease can be managed and the child can live a healthy and a normal life. If not, the condition will become too complicated and it will be difficult to effectively deal with the situation.
We hope that the above article has been helpful in educating you as to how can you recognize that your baby or infant might have diabetes. Although challenging, identification and spotting of these early symptoms are extremely important because the earlier diabetes is recognized, the lesser will its complications be. Also, the early diagnosis of diabetes will make it easier for the child to lead a normal and a healthy life!!