Juvenile diabetes is an autoimmune disease caused by the fact that beta cells in the pancreas, responsible for producing insulin, are being destroyed. Since the insulin hormone isn't produced anymore, glucose will not be transported from the bloodstream to the body cells to fuel them with energy. This leads to series of symptoms that include -
1. Increased thirst
2. Frequent urination
3. Constant hunger
4. Weight loss
Symptoms of juvenile diabetes are not at all limited to these four, but these are the most important ones. Unfortunately, many parents consider increased hunger and thirst as a normal consequence of the fact that the child is growing and don't take any measures. Other symptoms of juvenile diabetes are also ignored by parents, such as cuts or sores that heal slow or irritability and fatigue. They just assume that the cuts and wounds are healing slowly because this is normal in children and they think fatigue and irritability are caused by the normal daily activities a child has. Symptoms of juvenile diabetes are sometimes mistaken with flu symptoms and are approached in a wrong manner. Others symptoms like blurred vision are sometimes completely ignored because the child doesn't tell about them.
If parents notice that their child is losing weight despite the fact that he or she is constantly asking for food, they definitely need to have the kid tested for diabetes. They should also pay attention to the consumption of fluids of the child. Children with juvenile diabetes prefer cold and sweet beverages. An alarming signal is the fact that the child keeps on going to the bathroom or starts wetting the bed after he or she was potty trained. Prolonged and constant fatigue is not normal in children, no matter how active they are. On the contrary, it might be a symptom of juvenile diabetes caused by the fact that glucose is not fueling the cells with energy.
Symptoms of juvenile diabetes appear suddenly and the condition evolves rapidly. This is why it is very important to establish a diagnosis as soon as possible and to start treatment right away. There is no cure for juvenile diabetes and treatment is done for keeping the blood sugar level under control. If symptoms of juvenile diabetes are being ignored, the child will eventually fall into coma and will need intensive medical care. Because the symptoms are so hard to notice, a lot of cases of juvenile diabetes are only discovered when going to the doctor for a periodical check-up or for a minor problem.
