5 Signs And Symptoms Of Diabetes In Toddlers
Did you know that even your toddler could fall prey to diabetes? As shocking as it may sound it is true! Type 1 diabetes affects many toddlers worldwide and is a chronic health condition.
Read this post to learn about signs of diabetes in toddlers, its symptoms and what you can do about it.
Diabetes:
Diabetes is a disease, which produces unhealthy levels of sugar in the blood. The most common type of diabetes in toddlers is Type 1. Type 2 commonly strikes adults, especially people who are 40 or older.
Type 1 Diabetes:
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder. It stimulates the immune system to destroy healthy cells in the pancreas, which generate the essential hormone insulin.
Insulin is an essential hormone, which helps sugar (or glucose) in the bloodstream produce energy. Without insulin, there is a chance of sugar build up in the blood. Unhealthy sugar build up can be fatal.
Once your toddler eats his food, the essential digestive juices in his body break food down into the simple sugar component, glucose. Glucose is the primary fuel for the human body. Insulin helps cells use this glucose to generate energy.
The pancreas is a large gland behind the stomach, which produces insulin. In a healthy body, the organ automatically produces the required amount of insulin. But in case of toddlers with Type 1 diabetes, there is no insulin production, and they can’t produce the requisite energy.
With proper monitoring of the glucose levels in the blood and with the right treatment, diabetes is controllable. However, inadequate care can lead to many complications, like blindness, heart diseases, kidney disease, nerve damage, osteoporosis, gum and skin infections and the loss of limbs. Read on to know more about the signs of diabetes in toddlers.
Symptoms Of Diabetes In Toddlers:
Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases to affect children and infants today. According to reports by health experts, one in every four hundred children contracts Type 1 diabetes.
Most toddlers with Type 1 diabetes have no family history of the disease. The symptoms of diabetes worsen quickly. Some of the commonly occurring signs include:
1. Increased Thirst And Frequent Urination:
Diabetes can make a toddler feel thirsty all the time. The excess sugar in the blood absorbs essential tissue liquid, which leads to dehydration and frequent thirst. The toddler also urinates more because of excess fluid consumption.
[ Read: TB (Tuberculosis) In Toddlers ]
2. Extreme Hunger:
Babies with Type 1 diabetes may end up being hungry all the time. A lack of insulin in the body can lead to less energy production and excess sugar buildup. The lack of energy can lead to hunger pangs.
[ Read: Symptoms Of Bronchitis In Toddlers ]
3. Unusual Weight Loss:
As your toddler’s muscle tissue shrink due to lack of energy, your toddler becomes thinner and loses more weight.
4. Fatigue:
Fatigue is another symptom of diabetes in your toddler. Fatigue usually occurs due to the lack of energy.
[ Read: German Measles In Toddlers ]
5. Irritability:
Sometimes, children with undiagnosed Type 1 diabetes get moody and seem irritable.
Other symptoms include:
- Blurred vision
- Yeast infection
[ Read: Urinary Tract Infection In Toddlers ]
Diagnosing Diabetes:
Blood tests and urine tests are the most effective ways of determining whether a toddler has Type 1 diabetes. Don’t worry though. Although this is a chronic condition, which means that it is incurable. With the proper diet and requisite care, Type 1 diabetes is controllable.
You should think about taking your toddler to a pediatric endocrinologist if the symptoms are too severe. You can also alter your toddler’s diet to make sure that his sugar levels remain under control.
Tell us if you found this post useful. Share this post with fellow mothers and keep them informed about the potential dangers of diabetes in toddlers.
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