Diabetes mellitus: symptoms in children, the first signs of the disease in infants, as well as Komarovsky’s advice on how to identify diabetes

Good day, friends in misfortune! Since you have come to this page, you most likely come face to face with a serious “sweet” disease.

I will help you learn more about the first signs and symptoms of diabetes in children and adolescents, what clinical manifestations may be in a child from 0 to 18 years old. I really hope that the material in this important article will be useful and that you will do everything correctly and on time. Signs of diabetes in children develop very rapidly, I will tell you how this happens. It is very important to quickly see the first ailment in a child, since he, like no one else, needs an accurate and timely diagnosis.

Why such a rush? Yes, because all pathological processes in a child’s body proceed rapidly and in a short period of time a dangerous condition can develop, which I will discuss below. A large percentage of children with diabetes have type 1, but it can also be type 2, MODY or rare genetic syndromes. I wrote about the causes of diabetes in children in a separate article. But the development of these complications can be prevented.

Main information about the disease

Insulin is a substance produced by the pancreas. This element helps reduce the level of glucose in the body, which enters it along with fatty and carbohydrate foods. If the pancreas stops working normally and produces less insulin, a person develops problems with blood vessels, the nervous system and internal organs. This soon leads to the development of diabetes.

What adults need to know about the pathology that appears in children:

A common cause of the disease is abuse of junk food, frequent overeating and excess weight.
Diabetes appears as a result of a hereditary factor, and the first symptoms of the disease do not appear immediately, but after 3-4 years of life.
In young children and adolescents, a hidden type of diabetes often occurs, which does not cause any negative symptoms. Therefore, during this period it is necessary to rely only on timely consultation with a doctor.
Diabetes mellitus at an early age is accompanied by developmental delays and problems in the functioning of the nervous system.

Any unfavorable signs should be taken into account by parents.

Types of diabetes in children

Diabetes mellitus in children comes in several types. Namely, two:

1 Juvenile diabetes (type 1 diabetes). Its essence is this: in the pancreas there are special islets consisting of a cluster of endocrine cells (the so-called islets of Langerhans) that affect the production of insulin. In some cases, under the influence of certain factors hitherto unknown to science, the body begins to produce antibodies that seek to destroy these same cells. Simply put, the body “with its own hands” prevents the production of a sufficient dose of insulin, without which it itself suffers acutely in the end. It is this type of diabetes (in which antibodies destroy hormone-producing cells and thereby prevent insulin from being produced) that occurs most often in children or very young people. Hence, in fact, its name “grows legs” - juvenile (that is, juvenile) diabetes. It is also type 1 diabetes mellitus. This is one of the most “cruel” types of diabetes, because it leaves no hope for a complete recovery, and the only way to stabilize the condition of a child with type 1 diabetes is by regularly introducing a dose of insulin into the body.
2 Type 2 diabetes in children differs from type 1 in the most fundamental way - its development is directly related to obesity. By constantly overeating and gaining excess body weight, a person (whether an adult or a child) oversaturates his body with glucose day by day. There is simply too much of it for the pancreas to adequately cope with the delivery of sugar to the cells. As a result, the sensitivity of tissues and cells to insulin is impaired and persistent insulin resistance occurs.

In the case of type 2 diabetes, there is often no need for drug therapy (insulin is injected, as a rule, only in rare cases and in severe stages of the disease), and the treatment of this type of diabetes is directly related to the treatment of obesity itself. Here, as practice shows, the following help effectively:

Physical exercise;
Correct weight loss;
Special diet and changes in eating behavior.

Not so long ago, it was believed that type 2 diabetes was not characteristic of children, that it was a purely “adult” disease, directly related to malnutrition and obesity. However, these days, type 2 diabetes is becoming more and more common in adolescents and children - obesity is becoming “younger” all over the world, and after it, type 2 diabetes is also becoming “younger”.

Not long ago, scientists proved that children in the vast majority of cases inherit both the tendency to obesity and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes from their parents and other relatives.

Regarding the inheritance of type 1 diabetes by a child, the forecasts are much more optimistic: it turns out that if a mother or father has type 1 diabetes, then the probability that the child will “catch” this diabetes as an inheritance is only 2-3%.

Types of pathology in children

There are several types of diabetes in children and adolescents, each of them has its own symptoms, requires specific treatment and gives a different prognosis for the future. What types of pathology does a child have:

1st degree. The most common type of disease, which is accompanied by a decrease in insulin levels and problems with the pancreas. Stage 1 diabetes is characterized by mild or absent symptoms.
2nd degree. This type of disease most often occurs in older people, but cases of damage have also been observed in young children. During this period, the body does not perceive insulin, which leads to an increase in blood glucose levels.
Other forms of pathology that develop as a result of hereditary factors and are accompanied by disorders of the endocrine system and developmental delays.

Studies have shown that type 1 of the disease is most common in children, which can be treated with medication and is less likely to contribute to the development of complications.

Results

Type 1 diabetes in children can occur at any age. The pathology is classified as incurable. The only way to maintain vitality is insulin therapy and a strict diet. The “risk group” includes children with unfavorable genetics when parents or close relatives have the disease. For such babies, diabetes prevention should begin from birth.

The main symptoms are:

permanent thirst;
decreased activity of the child;
frequent urge to empty the bladder;
weight loss with increased appetite.

Diagnosis of the disease is carried out in laboratory conditions, using capillary blood analysis. Constant monitoring and proper management of diabetes will help parents learn to manage the disease, improve the child’s quality of life and delay the development of complications.

Causes

The causes of the disease are still being studied by scientists today. There is no clear answer to the question, however, we can identify the main factors that are considered precursors of pathology:

Problems in the functioning of the pancreas that are inherited.
Recent viral infections: smallpox, influenza, hepatitis.
Intoxication of the body.
Frequent stress and anxiety.
Improper feeding of infants.

The development of type 2 diabetes is influenced by the following factors:

Excess weight.
Abuse of hormonal drugs.
Endocrine pathologies.
Early pregnancies in adolescence in girls.

Some causes of the disease cannot be predicted and prevented, for example, with a hereditary factor. But in many cases, the onset of diabetes can be avoided by using preventive measures and paying due attention to the child’s health.

Symptoms of diabetes in children under 3 years of age

Diabetes mellitus in newborns and babies up to one year old has very specific manifestations. The main features include:

low body temperature;
slow weight gain;
strong thirst;
inflammation, swelling on the genitals;
sticky urine with the smell of acetone, which leaves a white mark after drying;
increased excitability;
diabetic coma.

Children aged 1–3 years experience frequent urination, which makes potty training difficult. There are frequent mistakes - wet pants and sheets.

Children experience increased appetite, dry mouth, and constant thirst. Children are constantly irritable and restless, it is difficult to captivate them with play, keep them occupied or interested in something.

Symptoms

In the first stages of development of the pathology, the symptoms are not clearly expressed. As diabetes progresses, its signs become noticeable, and the child develops problems with development and internal organs. The first signs of diabetes in infants include the following symptoms:

Urinary incontinence, changes in its color and smell.
Constant thirst.
Weight loss with regular eating.
Weakness, drowsiness.
Frequent infections by infectious diseases.
The appearance of diaper rash on the legs.
Sores in the mouth.
Skin rashes.

If a small child experiences several of the above signs at the same time, you should immediately contact a pediatrician and undergo appropriate diagnostics.

In adolescents, diabetes can be determined by the following symptoms:

Fast fatiguability.
Weakness, drowsiness.
The appearance of excess weight, shortness of breath.
Problems with the thyroid gland, hormonal imbalances.

Girls develop vulvitis, which causes pain and discomfort in the groin area.

Symptoms

How type 1 diabetes manifests itself in children depends in part on age. The signs of diabetes in children under 2–3 years of age are somewhat different from those in children 5–12 years of age. Young children often cannot explain what exactly is bothering them, while teenagers very quickly notice changes in themselves.

The first and main signs of the disease that parents should pay attention to are thirst, frequent urination and weight loss.

Thirst . A child can drink up to 10 liters of water per day. Very young babies may cry, ask for the breast, or drink formula greedily. However, despite drinking plenty of water, it does not bring relief.
Frequent urination . The child urinates frequently and the urine becomes clear, like water. Small children who have learned to use the potty on their own suddenly lose control of this process and urinate several times at night. Infants' diapers have to be changed much more often than usual, they are completely full and leak.
Weight loss is associated with the consumption of adipose tissue for the formation of glucose and dehydration.
The child's skin becomes dry, flaky, and flabby. Babies develop diaper rash that cannot be treated. A large spring falls. A diabetic blush appears on the cheekbones, cheeks, and chin.
Appetite changes . At the beginning of the disease it increases significantly, then decreases and disappears completely. The child is exhausted.
Abdominal pain , nausea, vomiting appear, in older children - constipation, in younger children - diarrhea. Often such children are brought to the hospital by ambulance with suspected appendicitis, and only a blood test for glucose puts everything in its place.
The smell of acetone from the mouth is associated with the breakdown of fats and appears during decompensation of diabetes mellitus.
If parents do not notice the development of the disease in time, the child’s nervous system suffers . He becomes lethargic, drowsy, lethargic, and complains of blurred vision. In severe cases, he loses consciousness and falls into a coma, breathing heavily.

By the way, we recommend reading the article Ketoacidosis in diabetes mellitus: everything you need to know

Often, type 1 diabetes mellitus, as a diagnosis, is discovered in a child who is already in a state of decompensation. Parents are looking for the cause of poor health, but they don’t think about diabetes. And only when the child is in serious condition do they call an ambulance. You need to be especially attentive to children who have recently had chickenpox, rubella or mumps, especially if they develop the symptoms described above soon after the illness.

Diagnostics

If you suspect diabetes in a child, you should consult a pediatrician. The doctor will prescribe the following diagnostic measures:

He will conduct a thorough examination of the child, study his outpatient examination, and interview parents about the symptoms and the time of their onset.
Will write out a referral for a general blood test.
Will make a referral to determine your blood sugar level. This is the main test that helps determine the presence of diabetes. Normally, the readings should be from 3.3 to 5.5 mmol/l.
Will issue a referral for a urine test.
He will refer you to a cardiologist or ophthalmologist.

In some cases, you will need to visit a urologist and gynecologist.

Complications

The most serious complication of diabetes is ketoacidosis. This disease is severe and can lead to coma or death. Features of the course of ketoacidosis are that the level of acetone in the blood increases, the person begins to feel abdominal pain, nausea, and rapid heartbeat. After a while, the person loses consciousness and falls into a coma.

Diabetes can also cause complications such as damage to the retina (retinopathy) , kidney failure (nephropathy) , and impaired joint mobility (hairopathy).

Treatment

Treatment for diabetes is prescribed by a doctor; if you go to the hospital in a timely manner, the child can expect a favorable prognosis. In some cases, artificial insulin support will be required throughout life. At the initial stages of the disease, the child is placed in a hospital to collect all the necessary tests and determine the degree of development of the pathology. Subsequently, treatment takes place at home with regular check-ups with a doctor.

To maintain the patient’s condition, it is necessary to take timely therapy, follow a diet, and a daily routine. Principle of diabetes treatment:

Insulin. Injected intravenously into the buttocks, abdomen or shoulder blades.
Medications that alleviate the condition of a child with stage 1 diabetes.
Physiotherapy. Magnetic therapy and electrophoresis are performed.
Diet. Nutrition standards are observed, sugar, flour products, and fatty foods are excluded from the diet. The patient eats 4-5 times a day in small portions. The main emphasis in the diet is on boiled food, vegetables, fruits, and cereals.

Parents should monitor the child's condition and pay attention to any symptoms that appear. What to do when treating diabetes at home:

Check your sugar levels regularly using a glucometer.
Make sure your child eats after insulin therapy.
Store medications in the refrigerator.
Ensure that the child leads an active lifestyle.
Regularly inspect the skin for the presence of purulent formations and rashes.
Monitor the patient’s immunity and take multivitamin complexes in the winter.
If you have any suspicious symptoms, consult a doctor and get tested.

The future condition of the child depends on the level of parental responsibility. If you follow all the rules and recommendations, you can count on a favorable prognosis and the absence of complications. Otherwise, unfavorable circumstances cannot be avoided.

Types of diabetes

There are several types of diabetes; in children, diabetes mellitus is divided into only 2 types:

insulin-dependent type of diabetes (or it is called type 1);
non-insulin-dependent type of diabetes (respectively called the second type).

Adults usually develop type 2 diabetes, but children, on the contrary, are often diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (insulin dependent).

Often, type 1 diabetes is characterized by a significantly reduced amount of insulin; the main causes of diabetes are hidden in this, and for proper treatment, the child is usually “hooked” on insulin. It is very important to develop treatment methods together with your doctor and strictly adhere to them. Of course, children do not understand the seriousness of the disease, so it is very important that parents control the disease and do not give reasons for its exacerbation.

General regime and school

The general regimen is the same as for healthy children. Sports activities must be coordinated with your doctor.

Attention! Passing sports standards is not recommended.

School activities are not contraindicated. Depending on the course of the disease, in some cases additional days off are required. A resort holiday is useful as a general strengthening factor.

Treatment of complications and concomitant diseases occurs as usual. Against the background of treatment with diet and insulin, there are no contraindications to surgical treatment methods. General strengthening measures are necessary: proper nutrition without overeating. In cases of severe heredity and the presence of diabetes in several family members, it is necessary that such children be under constant medical supervision. (systematic examination of blood and urine for sugar content).

Prevention of complications of diabetes mellitus is especially important. Parents of children with this diagnosis should be well versed in basic issues related to diabetes treatment, diet, insulin administration, etc. It is advisable to place all children diagnosed with diabetes annually in a hospital for a more thorough examination. If there is a persistent deterioration in the patient's condition, the patient should be immediately admitted to a hospital.

What kind of disease is this

It is a chronic disease that is directly related to metabolic disorders in the body. There is an accumulation of glucose in the blood due to insufficient exposure to insulin. This disease can even be congenital; it also occurs in infants. Most cases of diabetes occur in children between six and twelve years of age.

Diabetes develops much faster in children than in adults. The thing is that children have an accelerated metabolism. At the same time, the autonomic nervous system is still at the stage of development; it is it that must control the level of glucose in the blood. Plus, parents are not always able to control what their child eats, especially if he is already a teenager. And this also affects the increase in sugar. Diabetes affects one to seven children per hundred thousand.

You need to know that there is a category of children whose risk of developing the disease is higher than others:

there are cases of this disease in the family history;
there are diseases based on metabolic disorders in the body;
The child has a severely weakened immune system.

If you are wondering whether diabetes mellitus is inherited by children, then the answer is no. The presence of these diseases in one of the relatives only increases the risk of developing the disease, but if all recommendations are followed and proper nutrition, the child can remain absolutely healthy.

There are two types of diabetes:

insulin dependent - the need to administer insulin to a sick child;
insulin-independent - observed in overweight children, especially those who are obese. But it is more common in older, obese people.

In addition, there are also the following types of diabetes:

neonatal - a rather rare type, occurs once in five hundred thousand in children under nine months of age, the reason is a chromosomal disorder;
modi - diabetes - is the result of a gene disorder that affects the functioning of the pancreas. Occurs on average in three percent of all patients.

Diabetes is distinguished by the degree of compensation:

compensated - therapy allows you to normalize blood sugar levels;
subcompensated - with adequate treatment, the glucose level is slightly higher than normal;
decompensated - it is not possible to reduce the sugar level, even with complex treatment.

The disease is also considered according to severity:

mild - characteristic symptoms may not appear at all, the disease becomes known only through test results, the sugar level is not higher than eight millimoles per liter (on an empty stomach);
medium - manifestations of deteriorating health are characteristic, glucose levels are above eight to twelve millimoles per liter;
severe - the sugar level exceeds fourteen millimoles per liter, the condition is fraught with complications.

In newborns, transient, transient diabetes is distinguished. Symptoms are eliminated within three months, complete recovery takes about a year. However, the risk of relapse in adulthood cannot be excluded.

Diagnostic methods

Diagnosis of diabetes mellitus involves a number of measures.

The doctor carefully studies the medical history of the child and his immediate family.
The doctor examines your life history to identify possible sources of the disease.
A thorough examination of the baby is carried out and complaints are collected.
Laboratory tests are prescribed:

blood for sugar;
general blood analysis;
hormone tests;
immunological tests;
general urine analysis;
biochemical blood test.

The doctor, assuming what exactly influenced the development of the disease or, if it allows for the development of complications, can prescribe instrumental research methods, in particular:

ultrasonography of the liver, also kidneys;
duplex scanning of the vessels of the lower extremities;
encephalography;
rheovasography;
electroencephalogram of the brain;
MRI;
ophthalmometry;
CT.

It is important for the doctor to differentiate diabetes from diseases with similar manifestations, namely acetone syndrome, diabetes of a nephrogenic nature, or diabetes insipidus.

Long-term control

Diabetes in a child is a serious chronic disease. Measures to control glucose metabolism must be carried out in a disciplined manner every day, without breaks. Tune in to the fact that it will be like this for the rest of your life. Breakthrough treatments for type 1 diabetes will appear sooner or later, but no one knows when this will happen. Taking daily steps to manage your diabetes is worth your time, effort, and money. Because they reduce the risk of acute and chronic complications to almost zero. The child will grow and develop normally, like his healthy peers.

What to do as your baby gets older:

Encourage him to manage his diabetes on his own rather than relying on his parents.
Discuss with your child the importance of a disciplined daily routine.
The patient must learn to measure his blood sugar, calculate insulin dosages and give injections.
Help with dieting and overcoming temptations to indulge in forbidden foods.
Exercise together and set a good example.

If a child receives insulin injections, it is advisable that he wear an identification bracelet. In a critical situation, this will make the work of doctors easier and increase the chances that everything will end well. For more information, read the article “First aid kit for diabetics. What you need to have at home and with you."

Psychological problems, how to solve them

Diabetes has a significant impact on your emotional well-being, both directly and indirectly. Low blood sugar causes irritability, nervousness, and aggressiveness. Parents and other people around a diabetic need to know what to do in this case. Read the article “Hypoglycemia - symptoms, prevention and treatment”. Remember that the patient has no malicious intent. Help him stop an attack of hypoglycemia - and he will return to his normal state.

Children have a hard time when a disease sets them apart from their friends. It is advisable for the child to measure his own sugar at school and inject insulin away from the eyes of his classmates. Since he will eat differently from those around him, he will in any case attract attention to himself. But this cannot be avoided. If you eat regular food, complications will inevitably develop. Test results will begin to worsen as early as adolescence, and symptoms will be noticeable during the period when healthy people start families. A low-carbohydrate diet should be followed with the same zeal with which Muslims and devout Jews refuse pork.

Teenagers have special psychological problems. They often try to hide their illness from friends and girlfriends. Girls are reducing their insulin doses to lose weight, even though their sugar levels are rising. If a teenager does not understand why he needs to follow a diet, he will secretly eat forbidden foods.

The most dangerous thing is if a child rebels against his parents, demonstratively violates the regime, does not inject himself with insulin, does not measure his sugar, etc. This can lead to irreversible consequences and destroy the results of many years of treatment that has been carried out since childhood.

It is impossible for parents to insure themselves against the troubles of adolescence that are listed above. Official sources advise parents to talk to a psychotherapist if they notice that their teenage child is having problems - his performance at school has decreased, he is sleeping poorly, losing weight, looks depressed, etc. But in practice, it is unlikely that an outside specialist will be able to help with anything . If your child has diabetes, try to have more children. Pay attention to them too, and not just to the sick family member.

Prevention

To protect your child from this disease, it is necessary to regularly take preventive measures. First of all, you need to monitor your diet. The child should eat small meals, but often, about 5-6 times a day. Of course, food must be balanced and contain all the vitamins necessary for a growing body.
There is no need to completely exclude sweets from the diet of healthy children, but the amount of such foods should be strictly controlled.
If a child at an early age is already overweight or in the early stages of obesity, parents are strongly advised to consult an endocrinologist. If necessary, the doctor will conduct a diagnosis and be able to provide his recommendations. You can also visit a pediatric nutritionist who can develop a system of not only healthy, but also tasty nutrition.
Since physical activity helps dissolve glucose in the blood and lowers sugar levels, it should not be neglected. About 2-3 times a week, the child should engage in accessible and feasible physical exercise.

https://youtu.be/-VMyom4IEtI

What to do if you suspect a disease?

Only an endocrinologist can make an accurate diagnosis.

If you have the slightest doubt about the child’s health, you should consult a doctor. He will conduct an examination and interview, prescribe an examination, ultrasound of the pancreas, tests (fasting blood, urine).

Next, the doctor will determine the type of diabetes and prescribe a specific treatment - select a special low-carbohydrate diet, prescribe pills, or choose the type of insulin and its dose.

Constant monitoring of the amount of sugar is required; you should purchase a glucometer.

Certain physical exercises (physical therapy) can affect pancreatic tissue, thereby reducing blood sugar levels by regulating the amount of insulin.

The diet must be chosen correctly - fewer carbohydrates, the required amount of proteins, a large amount of vitamins.

The child's diet should contain vegetables (except potatoes) and non-sweet fruits. It is worth offering food as often as possible, about 8 times, in small portions.

Physical exercise and diet, as well as insulin medications, must be prescribed by a doctor; under no circumstances can they be replaced! In addition, after a certain period, treatment is changed due to the development of the body.

You should monitor the condition of blood vessels, heart, vision and other internal organs.

Support from loved ones is important when such a disease manifests itself; children cannot immediately understand what is happening to them - why give injections and why they can’t have sweets when others are allowed everything.

Causes of the disease

Children usually present with type 1 diabetes mellitus or an insulin-dependent form of the disease. Type 2 diabetes (non-insulin dependent) is extremely rare; this disease is usually characteristic of adults. Most often, the first signs of the disease begin in children at 5 years of age, although sometimes diabetes mellitus is diagnosed in children between 1 and 2 years of age.

The main causes of pathology include the following:

Genetic predisposition - if the mother was diagnosed with diabetes or developed it during pregnancy, then the likelihood of the disease in a baby up to one year increases sharply. The fact is that the placenta absorbs sugar well, and it begins to accumulate in the fetus’s body. There is a high probability of genetic transmission on the paternal side;
Babies with high body weight - children whose birth weight is more than four and a half kilograms are automatically included in the risk group;
Obesity – with excessive consumption of sweets, the baby suddenly gains weight and his metabolism is disrupted. The pancreas cannot cope with huge amounts of sugar. Obesity is often accompanied by a sedentary lifestyle. Physical inactivity further worsens the condition;
Children who have had severe viral infections may develop diabetes. Rubella, mumps, hepatitis cause complications on the pancreas;
If a baby often suffers from colds, viral and bacterial infections, then his immune system suffers, its functioning is disrupted, which leads to endocrine disorders.

Useful video

How to explain to a child how, why and what causes diabetes? Check out this interesting guide for children with Russian subtitles:

https://youtu.be/w4vcHoGqIfk

Parents of a child diagnosed with diabetes must understand that this is a dangerous and incurable disease and tell their child about it. At the same time, he does not need to be made an outcast of society.

The child should communicate with peers and should not feel different. Parents should also teach him how to administer insulin on his own and how to use a glucometer. These measures are enough for a full life.

The first signs and symptoms of diabetes in a child

Childhood diabetes develops very quickly, within a few weeks. What parents need to be attentive to in order to identify the disease as quickly as possible:

Thirst. When blood sugar levels are elevated, it draws water from the cells, causing dehydration. Children especially want to drink in the evening.
Frequent urge to urinate. Increased glucose negatively affects the kidneys, the process of reabsorption of primary urine is reduced and the child experiences frequent urination, as a result of which the body gets rid of toxic substances.
Increased appetite. When a child eats a lot, but does not gain weight, and even loses weight sharply, this is a sign that glucose is not entering the cells and they are starving.
Feeling unwell after eating. Until the pancreas brings glucose levels back to normal, the child experiences nausea, abdominal pain, and even vomiting.
Sudden weight loss. This symptom appears if glucose does not enter the cells at all and the body has to rely on the energy of subcutaneous fat.
Constant weakness. Loss of strength, lethargy, and apathy are associated with impaired absorption of glucose in the blood.
Smell of acetone from the mouth. This phenomenon occurs due to the formation of ketone bodies in the blood after the breakdown of fats. The body needs to get rid of toxins, and it does this through the lungs.
Infectious diseases. A weakened immune system cannot cope with protective functions, and the child often suffers bacterial and fungal infections.

Causes and prevention of diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is considered a polyetiological disease that can develop due to several causes. The main etiological (causal) factor is hereditary predisposition. If one of the parents suffers from a carbohydrate metabolism disorder, then with a high degree of probability the child may have a pathological condition. The risk of developing pathology increases the impact of certain provoking factors, which include:

Viral infections (enterovirus, rotavirus, rubella, mumps, Epstein-Barr virus).
The development of an autoimmune process in which the immune system “erroneously” produces antibodies to its own tissues, in particular the beta cells of the pancreas.
Toxic exposures that occurred early in life.
Poor nutrition of a child - artificial feeding of the baby, especially without the use of special adapted milk formulas, monotonous and carbohydrate-rich foods at an older age. Overeating, craving for sweets, and a tendency to be overweight provoke the development of type 2 diabetes.
Child's weight at birth exceeding 4.5 kg.
Major surgical interventions, stress.
A sedentary lifestyle contributes to the development of obesity.

Prevention of diabetes mellitus includes eliminating the impact of provoking factors on the child’s body. It is very important to closely monitor the child’s nutrition and sufficient physical activity, especially if there is a family history. Following preventive recommendations can reduce the risk of developing metabolic disorders, delay the manifestation of the disease and alleviate its course.

Preventive measures

It is important that the child has an active lifestyle and good nutrition

In order to reduce the risk of developing the disease, parents must control the lifestyle and nutrition of their offspring. Let's look at what exactly needs to be done for preventive purposes.

Monitor your child's body weight.
Provide him with proper and nutritious nutrition.
Promote an active lifestyle.
Regularly strengthen your baby's immunity.
Give medications as prescribed by your doctor.
Visit your pediatrician regularly.
If you have any suspicions, consult a doctor immediately so that the disease can be diagnosed in time before it causes complications.

Now you know what the symptoms of diabetes in children are and what factors cause it. Be careful, monitor the health of your children and their well-being. Be able to recognize the development of the disease in time and begin appropriate treatment.

Characteristic signs

A sign of diabetes is frequent urination and sticky urine.

Parents should know how a disease such as diabetes mellitus manifests itself. It is worth considering that there are typical and atypical symptoms. The first include:

urinary incontinence at night;
increased appetite;
dry mouth;
weight loss

It is typical that urine may become sticky because it contains a lot of sugar. Itching, dry skin and pustules may occur.

Atypical signs include changes in the baby’s behavior - the child gets tired, constantly lethargic, and complains of a headache. Problems begin at school.

It is very important to know about the presence of acute symptoms, which indicate a serious condition and require emergency medical attention. Otherwise, the child risks waiting for the development of a diabetic coma. These symptoms include:

dehydration, which can occur due to vomiting or frequent urination;
exhaustion;
atypical breathing;
urine and breath smell strongly of acetone;
confusion;
movements lose coordination;
fainting;
cyanosis of the extremities;
tachycardia.

Symptoms in babies

Lethargy and increased sleepiness can be a symptom of diabetes

Children who have not yet learned to talk and are not able to tell their parents about what worries them remain longer without an established diagnosis. Therefore, it is important that mom and dad be more attentive and promptly notice the presence of any changes in the health status of the little one. The first signs of diabetes may include lethargy and drowsiness, and frequent urination. What is typical is that if a toddler pees on a diaper, this area hardens after drying and becomes like a starched area. The urine will be sticky due to the high glucose content. Also, the youngest may experience vomiting, diaper rash occurs and does not heal for a long time, particularly in the groin area. A child can have an excellent appetite without gaining any weight.

Manifestations in adolescents

As a child gets older, the risk of diabetes decreases. And if it does occur, it develops much more slowly. At this age, diagnosis becomes difficult, since doctors can attribute symptoms such as weight loss or lethargy, fatigue to the consequences of an infectious disease or the manifestation of neurosis. The sick teenager has:

fast fatiguability;
he can be hot-tempered;
headache;
school performance deteriorates noticeably;
there is a desire to eat sweets;
may become very pale and even lose consciousness;
characterized by slow healing of wounds;
The areas around the nail plate may become inflamed.

Why does it occur

Obesity can contribute to the development of diabetes
Let's look at the reasons that affect the development of diabetes in children.

Hereditary predisposition.
Obesity.
Severe stress and nervous shock.
Abuse of flour products and sweets.
Previous viral diseases that managed to affect the pancreas.
Low physical activity also contributes to the development of this disease.
Decreased immunity. When a malfunction occurs in the body, antibodies begin to be produced in excess, they can damage the pancreas.

Causes

Diabetes mellitus acquired in childhood has its own causes, which lead not only to the disease itself, but also to its rapid development.

Harm from sweets – is it a myth or reality? This is a question often asked by parents of young children. The exception is children under one year old, because no one gives them sweets yet, with rare exceptions.

One of the common causes of diabetes in a child is excessive consumption of sweets. But this is a misconception. Carbohydrate metabolism or sugar absorption in children occurs much faster than in adults. Sweetness is a natural need for a child’s body, which decreases with age in 90% of people. The causes of diabetes due to the consumption of sweets are minimal, unless you eat several kilograms at once.

The function of the pancreas, which is responsible for controlling blood sugar through the production of the hormone insulin, develops slowly. To be precise, this happens by age 5. The most dangerous age for a child to acquire diabetes begins from 5 to 11 years. But there are other reasons related to children's favorite food. When consumed systematically and in large quantities, the most harmful products to the body are the following:

natural, freshly squeezed juice;
bakery products, muffins;
cakes and pastries;
chips and crackers with various artificial seasonings;
sparkling water with sweet syrup;
fast food (extremely harmful).

All these and many other products with dyes, preservatives and toxic substances are the causes of such a complex disease.

Children at risk include:

those born with a hereditary factor;
have had a viral disease, influenza, rubella or measles;
those suffering from metabolic disorders (obesity);
have reached the teenage level (disturbances, hormonal changes);
overloaded with physical activity.

In the latter case, a really strong physical training program is implied. Physical exercise itself, within normal limits, is indicated for diabetes.

The first signs of the disease in different age categories are actually the same. By and large, it doesn’t matter what age we are talking about, the main difference will only be whether he can complain or not. That is why parents should monitor their babies and contact a medical facility at the slightest manifestation.

You should also know that any skin problems with diabetes are very difficult to cure, no matter how old the person with diabetes is. Therefore, you should protect your child from wounds, try to treat them immediately and keep them clean and dry in the future.