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Type 1 Diabetes Information

Type 1 diabetes in children is an autoimmune disease that can be fatal if untreated, and the guidance provided here is intended to raise awareness about this disease.

Description

Type 1 diabetes usually develops in children and young adults but can occur at any age

  • Type 1 diabetes can appear at any age, but it generally appears at two noticeable peaks. The first peak occurs in children between 4 and 7 years old. The second is in children between 10 and 14 years old (Mayo Clinic).

Type 1 diabetes affects insulin production

  • Normally the body turns the carbohydrates in food into glucose (blood sugar), the basic fuel for the body’s cells.
  • The pancreas makes insulin, a hormone that moves glucose from the blood into the cells.
  • In type 1 diabetes, the body’s pancreas stops making insulin, and blood glucose levels rise.
  • Over time, glucose can reach dangerously high levels in the blood, which is called hyperglycemia.
  • Untreated hyperglycemia can result in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), which is a life-threatening complication of diabetes.

Risk Factors Associated with Type 1 Diabetes

It is recommended that children displaying warning signs and symptoms associated with type 1 diabetes described below, should be screened (tested) for the disease by their health care provider.

Risk Factors

Researchers do not completely understand why some people develop type 1 diabetes and others do not. However, having a family history of type 1 diabetes can increase the likelihood of developing type 1 diabetes. Other factors might play a role in developing type 1 diabetes, including environmental triggers such as viruses. Type 1 diabetes is not caused by diet or lifestyle choices.

Warning Signs and Symptoms Associated with Type 1 Diabetes and Diabetic Ketoacidosis

Warning signs and symptoms of type 1 diabetes in children develop quickly, in a few weeks or months, and can be severe. If your child displays the warning signs below, contact your child’s primary health care provider or pediatrician for a consultation to determine if screening your child for type 1 diabetes is appropriate:

  • Increased thirst
  • Increased urination, including bed-wetting after toilet training
  • Increased hunger, even after eating
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Feeling very tired
  • Blurred vision
  • Very dry skin
  • Slow healing of sores or cuts
  • Moodiness, restlessness, irritability, or behavior changes

DKA is a complication of untreated type 1 diabetes. DKA is a medical emergency. Symptoms include:

  • Fruity breath
  • Dry/flushed skin
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Stomach pains
  • Trouble breathing
  • Confusion

Type 1 Diabetes Treatments

There are no known ways to prevent type 1 diabetes. Once type 1 diabetes develops, medication is the only treatment. If your child is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, their health care provider will be able to help develop a treatment plan. Your child’s health care provider may refer your child to an endocrinologist, a doctor specializing in the endocrine system and its disorders, such as diabetes.

Contact your child’s school nurse, school administrator, or health care provider if you have questions.