The four main symptoms of Type 1 diabetes are easy to remember:
- Thirst: Excess drinking, unable to quench thirst.
- Toilet: Frequent urination, particularly at night.
- Tiredness: Lack of energy, sleeping more than usual.
- Weight loss: Rapid weight loss over a short period.
Less common symptoms:
- Lack of concentration
- Vomiting and abdominal pain
- Constipation
- Bedwetting
- Mood swings
- Frequent infections
- Itchy skin infections
NOTE: In children under the age of two, symptoms may not be immediately obvious.
Type 1 Diabetes – no longer a rare condition
Up to five children and teenagers are diagnosed each week with Type 1 diabetes in Ireland.
In 2014, 1 in 6 children diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes were admitted to hospital with Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), as a result of late diagnosis. Early diagnosis is critical. DKA is a potentially life threatening condition that requires urgent medical attention.
What is Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition affecting 1 in 500 children with onset over days or weeks. The condition tends to occur in childhood or early adult life and will require daily insulin therapy. It is caused by the body’s own immune system destroying the insulin-making cells (beta-cells) of the pancreas.
Diagnosis in very young children
Children under three to five years of age with Type I diabetes comprise a small proportion of all those with Type 1 Diabetes. When a sick infant or toddler presents to their GP, Type I diabetes is generally not high on the list of possible diagnoses, given the relatively low incidence of the condition in this age group.
If your child is unwell without a definite cause, ask your GP to check for Type 1 diabetes.
Managing your Child’s Diabetes