What is diabetes type 1 in children and teens?

Symptoms of type 1 diabetes are caused by high blood sugar. They usually develop quickly, over a few days to weeks. At first, symptoms may be overlooked or mistaken for another illness, like the flu.

Symptoms include:

• Urinating often. This may be more noticeable at night.
• Being very thirsty. This happens if a person urinates so often that they get dehydrated.
• Losing weight without trying. This happens because the body isn't able to get energy from sugar. Instead, the body uses muscle and fat for energy.
• Increased hunger. The body isn't using all the calories that it can. Many calories leave the body through urine.
• Blurry vision. When sugar builds up in the lens of the eye, it sucks extra water into the eye. This changes the shape of the lens and blurs vision.
• Feeling very tired. The body isn't using the calories it takes in, and it isn't getting the energy it needs.

Treatment for type 1 diabetes focuses on keeping blood sugar levels within a target range. This will help prevent problems from diabetes such as eye, kidney, heart, and nerve disease.

To manage type 1 diabetes, a person will:

• Take insulin every day. This may be done through an insulin pump or a syringe (needle).
• Check blood sugar levels often.
• Make healthy food choices.
• Get regular physical activity. Exercise helps the body to use insulin in a more efficient way.
• Get routine screening tests and exams. These are done to watch for signs of problems.
• Avoid smoking.

Blood sugar levels are easier to manage when mealtimes, amount of food, and exercise are similar every day.

Medicine to treat other health problems, like high blood pressure or high cholesterol, may be needed. This may help prevent problems from diabetes.

The doctor will ask about past health issues and do a physical exam. Blood tests are done to measure how much sugar is in the blood. The doctor will use those test results and the American Diabetes Association criteria to diagnose diabetes.

Some people are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes because they have symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis.

It may be hard to tell what type of diabetes a person has. If so, the doctor may do a C-peptide test or test for autoantibodies to diagnose type 1 diabetes or a slowly developing form of type 1 diabetes called latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA). Some rare forms of diabetes are caused by a genetic problem. Genetic testing may be done to diagnose them. This includes maturity onset diabetes of the young (MODY). There are many types of MODY, depending on the gene that is affected.

Insulin is the only medicine that can treat type 1 diabetes. Your child will most likely take more than one type of insulin. Your child may take several shots (injections) a day or use an insulin pump. Both methods work well to keep blood sugar levels in a target range.

The amount and type of insulin your child takes will likely change over time. This will depend on changes that occur with normal growth, physical activity level, and hormone changes (such as during adolescence). Your child may also need higher doses of insulin when feeling sick or stressed.

Don't let your child skip a dose of insulin without a doctor's advice.

• Have your child always wear a medical bracelet or necklace so medical personnel can give the right care. You can buy these at most drugstores and online.
• Follow your child's treatment plan for diabetes. Help your child to:
  • Take insulin as directed.
  • Eat healthy foods and follow their meal plan to know how much carbohydrate they need for meals and snacks.
  • Be active each day. Your child may like to take a walk with you, ride a bike, or play sports.
  • Check and record your child's blood sugar several times a day. Your child's doctor or diabetes educator will tell you when the levels should be checked. As your child grows older, you can teach them to take on more and more of this responsibility.
  • Track any symptoms of low blood sugar your child has, and know how to treat it. For example, keep quick-sugar foods and glucagon with your child.
  • Track any changes in your child's activities, diet, or insulin use.
• Work with your child's doctor to write up a sick-day plan for what to do on days when your child is sick. Your child's blood sugar can go up or down, depending on the illness and if your child can keep food down. Call the doctor when your child is sick to see if you need to adjust your child's insulin.

Create and find support

• Show your child how to talk about feelings. Teach your child to talk to family, friends, a doctor, or a counselor when feeling afraid, sad, angry, or even guilty about having diabetes.
• Consider a summer camp for children who have diabetes. It can help children learn about their disease and about how to manage it. It also introduces them to other children who have type 1 diabetes.
• Join a support group for parents of children with diabetes. Local groups are available in most areas.
• Ask your child's treatment team for support when you need it. Call your doctor or other diabetes expert if you have questions or concerns about your child's care.

Children with type 1 diabetes can and should take part in their treatment. As children get older and more experienced with the disease, they can participate more in their treatment.

• Toddlers and preschool-aged children usually can't do tasks for diabetes care, such as giving insulin or checking blood sugar. But as they get older, they typically can help with these tasks.
• Children in elementary school can help with all tasks required for their care. With supervision, many children can test their blood sugar level.
• Children in middle school should be able to test their own blood sugar level. Some children can give insulin shots as long as this happens with supervision.
• Teens should be able to handle their own care with appropriate supervision. Teens may choose to use an insulin pump instead of shots. If they use a pump, they still need supervision from adults.

See your child's doctor at least every 3 to 6 months. The doctor will do tests to see if your child's blood sugar has been in the target range and see how well treatment is working.

Type 1 diabetes is a disease that starts when the pancreas stops making enough of a hormone called insulin. Insulin helps the body use sugar from food as energy or store it for later use. If there isn't any insulin, too much sugar stays in the blood. Over time, high blood sugar can harm many parts of the body. These include the eyes, heart, blood vessels, nerves, and kidneys.

Type 1 diabetes can occur at any age, but it usually starts in children or young adults. It's a lifelong disease. But with treatment and a healthy lifestyle, people can live a long and healthy life.