Side note before I begin: If you want to stand in solidarity with diabetics during Diabetes Awareness Month in November, be sure to wear blue throughout the month, especially on Friday, November 12th, which is World Diabetes Day.
Is it the flu? A tummy bug? Just a growth spurt? Or could it possibly be type 1 diabetes?
Know the signs and symptoms as we enter this cold and flu season! Since November is Diabetes Awareness Month, it’s quite timely to get acquainted with the signs of type 1 diabetes in childhood.
Since the flu and type 1 diabetes share similar symptoms, it can be difficult to determine whether or not to worry when your child comes home from school looking and feeling sickly. Knowledge is power in this situation! Knowing the signs of T1D could result in catching it earlier, which will help your potential new T1 child avoid diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) or other complications.
The general public tends to misunderstand or inaccurately classify type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease and not developed as the result of poor lifestyle choices. In most cases, it’s simply genetic.
What is Type 1 Diabetes?
Glucose is our bodies’ main source of energy. Type 1 diabetes is a chronic autoimmune disease where the body can’t use glucose correctly. This is because the body stops making the crucial hormone, insulin. Insulin is the key that unlocks the cells to let glucose in, and without insulin, glucose builds up in the bloodstream. This causes high blood sugar.
High blood sugar can lead to various serious health problems, which is why it’s so important to catch a T1D diagnosis in the early stages. This way, blood sugar isn’t super elevated for a prolonged period of time. Type 1 diabetics do not have the ability to create insulin at all, and this ability cannot be restored or reawakened with lifestyle changes due to the pancreas not functioning correctly.
Type 1 diabetes is chronic, incurable, and irreversible.
Major T1D Symptoms
The classic symptoms of type 1 diabetes include:
- Exhaustion
- Excessive thirst
- Frequent urination
- Sudden or unexplained weight loss
- Blurred vision
- Hunger
Other Common T1D Symptoms
- Fatigue
- Flu-like symptoms
- Random various infections (such as yeast or eye infections)
- Muscle aches and pains throughout the body
- Nausea and/or vomiting
These symptoms are indicators of very high blood sugar and even diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), which happens as the result of high levels of ketones in the bloodstream. DKA can set in and worsen quite quickly. It also mimics flu symptoms, which can be tricky.
What To Do If You Suspect Type 1 Diabetes
If you suspect your child may be exhibiting type 1 diabetes symptoms, try your best to stay calm. It’s definitely easier said than done, but this is essential for keeping your child at ease. Stress causes blood sugar to spike, and this is problematic if your child is already experiencing high blood sugar.
As with most situations in life, you set the emotional environment for your child. If you’re stressed and in a tizzy, they will internalize that chaotic energy. If you’re peaceful and level-headed, they will be able to remain calm as you search for answers together with your pediatrician. No matter what the outcome ends up being, everything will be okay; life just might look a bit different.
If a Type 1 Diagnosis Occurs
If your child, unfortunately, receives a type 1 diabetes diagnosis, I’ve compiled a few helpful hints that I hope you’ll remember in the days to come.
One of the most important things you can do is provide a safe space for your child to sort through their many emotions. There’s a sense of grief involved when a person receives a chronic diagnosis, and your child may need to process the range of emotions they’re experiencing—sadness, anger, shock, grief, etc.
Involve the whole family in your T1 child’s new life so they don’t feel isolated. Talk freely and openly about it. This serves a dual purpose as involving the family in this diagnosis educates them on how to help your child with type 1, and it also helps your child normalize their new life.
Walk them through daily care and management of blood sugar. The more they learn and understand it, the more equipped they’ll feel as they navigate life with T1D. This will also lay the foundation for them to feel more empowered when they take over their care management in their teen and adult years.
Encourage your child to continue doing the things they enjoy. Some things may look and feel different (especially athletics) but with your help, they can work through managing these new challenges. This will encourage them and prove to them that they can continue on with life, just with some new adjustments.
Moving Forward
A diagnosis of type 1 diabetes is life-altering and presents new challenges. It’s incurable and not preventable, but early detection can be a gamechanger! The sooner it can be detected, the better the outcome is long-term. This is why it’s so important for parents to be aware of the signs and symptoms. You and your child have a unique bond. Trust your mama instincts and remember, no matter what the outcome, you’ve got this!
