Diabetic Warning Signs: Does Your Child Have Diabetes?

My son was recently diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Since my ex-husband was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes during our marriage, I felt I would immediately recognize the Warning Signs of Diabetes. In hindsight, I can now see my son had diabetic warning signs for several years leading to his diagnosis. Here is a list of the Most Common Warning Signs of Diabetes from the American Diabetes Association and Past Experience of Many Concerned Parents of Diabetic Children:

Excess Thirst
Frequent Urination
Bed-wetting
Urgent Need to Urinate
Weight Loss
Bad Breath/Sweet Breath
Irritable/Short Temper
Lack of Focus
Heavy Sleeper/Hard to Wake
Low Energy/Lethargic
Stomach Aches
Extreme Hunger

An undiagnosed diabetic child can have some of the symptoms without the other symptoms. The symptoms are similar for Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes. My son did not lose weight, so I missed the warning signs. He had an urgent need to urinate, excessive thirst, and heavy sleeping. On the other hand, his dad had sudden weight loss, excessive thirst, and heavy sleeping. Undiagnosed diabetes can result in long term complication or even death, so early diagnosis is imperative.

If your child has symptoms, please ask the Doctor to perform a Blood Glucose Test. Blood Glucose Meters are also for sale at your local Pharmacy for $13 and up. The instruction manual will assist with interpreting the test results. If you suspect diabetes in your child, seek medical attention immediately.

Sources:
http://www.diabetes.org