We can deal with and cope with our own suffering but when we see our own child suffering it often becomes unbearable. Diabetes is a disease that can make the life of your child unbearable – no fries, no fizzy drinks, no pastries, no ice creams and no candy; in fact, no anything that children routinely take pleasure in. This article brings you up to speed on how to detect the early stages of diabetes in children, i.e. the symptoms of diabetes in children.
While most children under five lead normal healthy diabetes free lives, diabetes Type I diabetes can occur in babies when they are only a few months old (Type 2 never occurs in children under five).
The symptoms of diabetes in children – up to age five
The symptoms of diabetes in children include passing large amounts of urine and being very thirsty all the time – you notice the symptoms of diabetes in children are the same as for adults.
What to look out for:
You might notice:
1. Your child’s nappy needs changing very often.
2. That the child has begun wetting the bed frequently.
3. Needs extra feeds and drinks.
4. Often appears listless and gets tired very soon.
5. Appears to be losing rather than gaining weight for a child of his/her age.
6. There seems to be some problem with the child’s vision as he (or she) sometimes has problems reading the alphabets.
7. Your child breath seems to smell sweetish (kind of fruity).
8. Child suffers from urinary infection.
Caution:
Children can be very active and therefore drink a lot of water. Also, at this young age, they might naturally wet their beds. The symptoms you would be looking for are excessive consumption of liquid and bed wetting that goes beyond normal. If you suspect that diabetes might be involved, fix up an appointment with the child’s physician and have a clinical test done.
Your child with diabetes needs food at regular intervals, blood tests and insulin injections. Your child may not be able to tell you how he or she feels. So, making sure their blood glucose levels are within normal range is of paramount importance to their wellbeing.
If you are in the U.S. or other developed countries, remember that there is plenty of medical and professional care and support available for your child. It is important to take the child to diabetes clinics and you also be visited by diabetes health professionals on a regular basis to discuss your child’s growth and development and diabetes control.
The symptoms of diabetes in children – age five to twelve
Children between the ages of five and twelve who develop diabetes are more likely to have Diabetes Type I. Diabetes type II is also prevalent but it is rare. The symptoms of diabetes in children between the ages of five to 12 are the same (excessive thirst, frequent urination, lack of energy, weight loss), as those mentioned for children below 5 years of age.
Children in this age group can do everything that other children can do provided their glucose levels are always kept under control.
Check out the best diabetic teaching tools & portion control plates for children’s at Typefreediabetes.com.
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