Juvenile Diabetes
Symptoms Of Juvenile Diabetes
Diabetes is a condition in which the body
does not manufacture or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that
is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed
for daily life. The causes of diabetes are various, but both genetics
and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to
play important roles.
Juvenile diabetes is also
known as Type 1 diabetes. The process that destroys the
insulin-producing beta cells can be a long and insidious one. At the
point when insulin production bottoms out, however, juvenile diabetes
usually appears suddenly and progresses quickly. The symptoms of
juvenile diabetes include:
1) Frequent urination
2) Unusual thirst, especially for sweet cold drinks
3) Extreme hunger
4) Sudden, sometimes dramatic, weight loss
5) Weakness
6) Extreme fatigue
7) Blurred vision or other changes in eyesight
8) Irritability
9) Nausea and vomiting which are the acute symptoms
Children with juvenile diabetes may also be restless, apathetic, and may
have trouble functioning at school. In severe cases, diabetic coma may
be the first sign of juvenile diabetes.
Parents of a child with
"classic" symptoms of diabetes may notice that their son or daughter is
abnormally thirsty, needs to urinate frequently, and has been losing
weight in spite of a good appetite. But, this is only one possible set
of symptoms. Sometimes, about 25 % of the children have already
progressed to diabetic ketoacidosis by the time they first see the
doctor. Because these children may vomit and complain of abdominal pain,
their symptoms might be mistaken for the flu or appendicitis. In the
most severe cases, the child breathes rapidly and deeply, has a fruity
odor in his breath, and may lose consciousness.
Without adequate insulin, glucose builds up in the bloodstream
instead of going into the cells. The body is unable to use this glucose
for energy despite high levels in the bloodstream, leading to increased
hunger.
In addition to this, the high levels of
glucose in the blood causes the patient to urinate more, which in turn
causes excessive thirst. Within 5 to 10 years after diagnosis, the
insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas get completely destroyed,
and no more insulin is produced.
Juvenile diabetes can occur at
any age, but it usually starts from childhood. Symptoms are usually
severe and occur rapidly. So, keep a check!