Diabetes Symptoms in Babies: What to Look For?

Type 1 diabetes is autoimmune disease. According to the American Diabetes Association, five in 2000-3000 babies in the United States have diabetes. Parents should be aware of this alarming statistics and be on the look for sign and symptoms of this diseases in their babies. This is important since babies usually can not tell parents what's going on with them, related to their health.

Weight loss

One of the first sign o diabetes in children and babies in unexpected and unexplained weight loss. Since glucose in diabetics is not taken by cells, fat is used a s a source of energy, which leads to weight loss. The child may be eating normally but still loses weiht with diabetes.

Polyuria

Polyuria is some of the early signs that a baby may have diabetes. Polyuria is an increased amount of urine produced, which causes babies to urinate more frequently.. Since diabetic babies do not produce enough insulin to release the glucose from the blood, it goes to the kidneys. Kidneys have to flush this over abundance of glucose in their tissues. To do this more urine is produced. SO watch for an increase in the urinary frequency of a babies as an early sign of diabetes.

Breath odor

Another sign of babies having diabetes is an increase in the intensity of the smell of their breath. The smell is kind of a sweet smell. This smell is the result of a condition developed by diabetics known as ketoacidosis: an increase in the concentration of ketones in their bodies. Ketoacidosis also causes babies skin to dry excessively and to have a pale tone.

Mood changes

Babies with diabetes may also have a sudden change in behaviour. While they were live and very active all of the sudden they become slow, uninterested in physical activities and very lethargic. Also, the babies may become irritable for very simple things that previously did not affected his mood. Changing moods is also possible with diabetic babies.

Increase in the frequency of skin rashes

Babies with diabetes seem to have a tendency to get skin rashes more frequently. Diaper rash seem to be more prominent in babies with diabetes. This may be the result of skin getting dry through the process of ketoacidosis.

Diabetes is a serious condition that affects the life of million of people worldwide. Five in every 200 kids in the US have diabetes type 1, which is manageable with proper care. Parents should be aware of babies who may have an unexplained weight loos, polyuria, change of moods, and increased frequency of rashes as early signs of diabetes in babies. Please go to the doctor if your child shows some of these signs.

Sources:

Type 1 diabetes in children, adolescents, and young adults: how to become an expert on your own diabetes. By Ragnar Hanas (2007). Class Publishing L t d

American Diabetes Association Web Site, http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/type-1/