Diabetes is alarming, but it becomes more threatening once it starts as prediabetes in your children. According to the American Diabetes Association, 2060 will see a massive surge of diabetes cases from children – with an estimate of more than half a million. Moreover, prediabetes occurs when your child’s sugar levels are higher than average, putting them at risk for developing Type 1 or 2 diabetes.
Being the primary caregiver allows you to create a personalized lifestyle to prevent such. It’s also helpful to prevent such a disease and tackle it early on by learning about your child’s sugar levels and the early warning signs:
Weight Changes
Significant weight loss or gain is a common warning sign before a diabetes diagnosis occurs. Here, you must be aware of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes stops the natural production of insulin, making it harder for your child’s body to get rid of sugar in their blood. Although genetics play a more significant role, Type 1 diabetes can develop quickly in a few months or weeks.
On the other hand, Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body develops insulin resistance, ultimately causing dangerous blood sugar levels in your child’s body. Additionally, this type develops over a long period due to unhealthy lifestyles or gradually becoming overweight.
Changes in Eating Habits
Prediabetes can also manifest as changes in eating habits. When your child has a different eating pattern than average and is feeling more hungry or thirsty, prediabetes may be the main culprit. No matter how much they drink or eat, they would feel more hungry or thirsty than usual.
Shifts in Energy Levels
Even for adults, fatigue is a common symptom of Type 1 and 2 diabetes. This occurs because the body cannot correctly produce or regulate insulin, which means that the body doesn’t have enough glucose to function.
In children, fatigue raises a red flag, especially if your child is moving sluggishly. It’s also essential to remember that fatigue and tiredness are different. With fatigue, getting proper rest is insufficient, so your child would still have low energy even after resting.
However, a child may feel fine after resting when they experience tiredness. With this, it’s essential to note your child’s energy levels and determine if they’re moving more slowly than usual.
Stomach Pains
Gastrointestinal symptoms are also indicators of diabetes, which is more common with Type 1. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is more common for those with Type 1 diabetes to experience stomach pains, nausea, or vomiting.
Additionally, a study revealed that severe vomiting is still sinister even though a child has normal sugar levels – as it can be a symptom of diabetic ketoacidosis (a complication of diabetes). In the study, vomiting can result from a bacteria that induces diarrhea and vomiting. However, it could also lead to a symptom of diabetic ketoacidosis.
Changes in Urination
Going to the restroom more often is another red flag of common diabetes symptoms. Since extra glucose builds up in the blood, your child’s kidneys may work overtime to absorb the extra sugar and filter it out. As a result, you’d see noticeable changes in urination frequency.
When the kidneys can’t efficiently function, all the extra glucose goes to the urine, causing dehydration. In turn, this leads to drinking more fluids and then to more urination. It’s important to note this cycle once you suspect these small and sudden changes. Although it happens more during the day, frequent peeing can occur at night.
Darkening of Skin
Prediabetes can show early signs of skin darkening in the neck and armpits – called acanthosis nigricans (AN). These darkening folds have a velvet texture and don’t have to look like bruises per se. Once it manifests in your child, it’s best to see a dermatologist and get it tested with a blood or medical test. Doing so will allow you to determine whether your child only has AN or has another underlying medical condition.
Also read : Diabetic-Friendly Recipes
Blurred Vision
Whether it’s Type 1 or 2 diabetes, children who develop such a disease at an early age are at risk for eye disease later in their lives. So, it’s best to spot the symptom before it worsens. Here, high sugar levels can also lead to swelling of your child’s eye lens, which can then cause blurred vision. With this, it’s best to ask if they experience problems with balance and the inability to focus on objects or people more clearly. You’llYou’ll also be able to observe in real time.
Final Thoughts
Taking an active role in your children’s lives lowers the curve of developing diabetes at an early age. With this, it’s best to be alert for the symptoms, and if possible, you should reach out to your doctor for an early consultation.
The good news is that prediabetes can be reversed with healthy lifestyle changes, so it’s not too late to recognize the warning signs and address the issue at hand. Moreover, you can also create a personalized lifestyle plan to address the issue.
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