Diabetes In Children And Teenagers: Symptoms And Complications

Diabetes is one of the most prevalent diseases in children and adolescents around the world. India is home to nearly 128,550 children and adolescents with diabetes, out of which almost 97,700 children are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. This number makes India the second most affected country with type 1 diabetes in children. Although type 1 diabetes is more commonly found in children, the number of type 2 diabetes is also increasing rapidly. These numbers are just a glimpse of the grave situation of diabetes in children, the actual numbers are much higher as most of the cases remain undiagnosed.

Type 1 Diabetes In Children

In type 1 diabetes, the insulin-producing cells are destroyed and the body stops producing insulin. As a result, the blood sugar levels of children rise. In this condition, the use of insulin becomes mandatory to survive. Although type 1 diabetes can develop at any age from childhood to adulthood, the average age of developing type 1 diabetes is between 13 to 15 years, making it the most commonly found type of diabetes in young people.

Type 2 Diabetes In Children

Type 2 diabetes is less common in children and teenagers. However, the cases are continuously rising. Children who have close relatives with type 2 diabetes and children who suffer from obesity are at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Early detection of the disease can save children from many chronic complications. The treatment usually involves some medications and lifestyle changes. Maintaining a healthy body weight is also very important for children with type 2 diabetes.

Symptoms Of Type 1 Diabetes In Children

The symptoms of type 1 diabetes can develop rapidly in children. Some of the common symptoms of type 1 diabetes in children and teenagers are:

• Increased thirst and hunger
• Frequent urination
• Weight loss
• Fatigue
• Blurred Vision

Apart from these symptoms, many children also suffer from diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), which is a serious complication of type 1 diabetes. Most of the time, detection of DKA becomes responsible for the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. However, you may diagnose type 1 diabetes before developing DKA by being aware of 4 Ts in children.

Toilet:

Children urinating frequently, infants having heavier nappies and babies wetting the bed after being dry

Thirsty:

Children drinking excessive amounts of fluids and yet not able to quench their thirst

Tired:

Children feeling tired than usual

Thinner:

Children losing weight and getting thinner

Symptoms Of Type 2 Diabetes In Children 

The symptoms of type 2 diabetes take a long time to develop in children and therefore, many times, it gets delayed to diagnose type 2 diabetes. Some common symptoms of type 2 diabetes are:

• Frequent urination, especially during nights
• Feeling more thirsty
• Unexplained weight loss
• Fatigue and tiredness
• Blurry vision
• Slow healing of wounds and cuts

Complications Of Type 1 Diabetes In Children

One of the most serious complications of type 1 diabetes in children is diabetic ketoacidosis or DKA. When your body doesn’t have enough insulin and your cells can’t get glucose for energy, your body starts burning fat and in this process starts producing ketones. Ketones are highly toxic chemicals that make your body acidic and cause DKA.

This condition is so serious that it can even lead to diabetic coma as well as death, if not diagnosed and treated in time. Most of the time, DKA is incorrectly diagnosed and therefore can be proven extremely fatal and dangerous. Parents must look out for all the early warning signs of type 1 diabetes to reduce the chances of the child suffering from diabetic ketoacidosis.

Complications Of Type 2 Diabetes In Children

Type 2 diabetes is progressive in nature, especially in children. Therefore, it can lead to many lifelong chronic complications such as kidney diseases, eye diseases, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, nerve damage, etc. However, in the case of type 2 diabetes, dietary and lifestyle changes play a very important role. You may be able to prevent these complications by maintaining a healthy body weight, eating a balanced diet and staying physically active.

Prevent Diabetes In Children  

It is not possible to prevent the development of type 1 diabetes in children. However, you can easily prevent the development of type 2 diabetes.

Eat A Healthy Diet:

Avoid eating packaged food and limit the consumption of refined sugar. Eat a healthy diet loaded with fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

Maintain A Healthy Body Weight:

Maintaining a healthy body weight is extremely important to prevent diabetes. Exercise regularly and stay physically active.

Manage Your Stress:

Stress is one of the leading causes of diabetes in children. Use relaxing techniques such as yoga and meditation to alleviate your stress.

Do Not Miss The Warning Signs:

With an increased number of cases of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes in children, it has become extremely important for us to be continuously aware of the symptoms and warning signs of diabetes. Look out for these signs and contact your doctor immediately in case of any symptom. Early diagnosis can help prevent the development of many chronic complications such as diabetic ketoacidosis.

Reference Links:

1. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/284974
2. https://www.diabetes.org.uk/get_involved/campaigning/4-ts-campaign
3. https://medlineplus.gov/diabetesinchildrenandteens.html
4. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/ConditionsAndTreatments/diabetes-issues-for-children-and-teenagers
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5876549/
6. https://www.healthline.com/health/type-2-diabetes-children
7. https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=adolescents-and-diabetes-mellitus-90-P01597
8. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetestv/youth.html
9. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/prevent-type-2/type-2-kids.html