Question
What are the symptoms of childhood diabetes?
Answer
Diabetes can occur at any age, from as early as three months after birth, but it is most common between the ages of 5 to 7 and 10 to 13. The prevalence of pediatric diabetes in our country is approximately 0.6 per ten thousand. The onset of pediatric diabetes is often acute, with sudden symptoms of polyuria, polydipsia, increased appetite, and weight gain. This is commonly referred to as “three more and one less.” School-aged children may drink and urinate up to 3 to 4 liters or more daily, often feeling thirsty and drinking water at night. Appetite increases but weight may still rise. Young children often attract parental attention with bedwetting and weight loss. The characteristics of infants and young children with the disease are often the recurrence of bedwetting symptoms, with polydipsia and polyuria easily overlooked. Some may not seek medical attention until they experience diabetic ketoacidosis again.