Symptoms of diabetes in children

diabetes-ninyos-2-1100x408.jpg"> | 90% of children suffer from type 1 diabetes, that is, a deficit in the production of insulin by the pancreas. Type 2 diabetes is typical of older people and does not require insulin for its treatment.

In Spain, 1 out of every 1,000 children under 14 years of age is diabetic and it seems that its incidence is increasing, probably conditioned by environmental and genetic factors. Detecting the first symptoms of this disease is essential to diagnose the child and start treatment with insulin and modify the lifestyle to avoid future complications.

Symptoms of childhood diabetes

1. Hyperglycemia: by not having insulin, large amounts of glucose accumulate in the blood. It can be detected in any routine analysis performed on the child. This accidental finding in a blood test can be the first step in the diagnosis of diabetes.

2. Glucosuria: as the blood has such a high level of glucose, the kidneys cannot filter it (in normal conditions we do not have glucose in the urine) and we can detect sugar in the urine test with a dipstick. It can also be a chance finding in a screening, for example, of.

3. Polyuria: for the kidneys to eliminate glucose through the urine, they need it to dissolve in significant amounts of water, for this reason, diabetic children urinate a lot and many times ... this is known by the medical term polyuria.

4. Polydipsia: if the child urinates a lot, he will have to replace all the fluids he loses, so the diabetic child will be very thirsty, even at night.

5. Polyphagia: as glucose cannot be used properly by the muscles due to insulin deficiency, the cells feel "hungry" and demand more energy. The diabetic child perceives this sensation as an increase in appetite, eating a lot and at all times.

6. weight loss and fatigue: although the diabetic child eats more, the cells do not have enough energy, so he loses weight and feels exhausted.

• Detecting the first symptoms is essential to diagnose the child and start treatment with insulin and modify the lifestyle to avoid future complications.
• Hyperglycemia is a symptom that is detected in a blood test, and glycosuria in a urine one.
• Other symptoms that can alert are without the child urinating a lot, he is very thirsty (to replace these fluids that he loses), he has a great appetite, he loses weight and he is tired.

Dra. Esther Martínez García Pediatric Specialist