Diabetes in children and young people
Diabetes is a condition that causes a person’s blood sugar level to become too high. The most common diabetes in children is Type 1 but they can develop Type 2 diabetes.
In children and young people, the most common symptoms of diabetes are known as the 4 T’s:
- Toilet- Going to the toilet a lot for a wee; bed wetting by a previously dry child or heavier nappies in babies; Getting up in the night to go to have a wee.
- Thirsty- Being very thirsty and not being able to quench the thirst. A child may ask for drinks more often, finishing drinks very quickly or being drinking more than usual.
- Tired- Feeling more tired than usual. Having less energy, not playing as much or having less energy for sport.
- Thinner- Losing weight or looking much thinner than usual.
What to do if you think your child has diabetes
If your child has any of the above signs or symptoms of diabetes, you should take them straight to the doctor and insist on a blood glucose test. If a quick and simple finger prick test indicates high blood sugar, your GP will refer your child to a specialist diabetes team or hospital and the test will be sent to the lab to diagnose diabetes.
There are 2 main types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2.