Diabetes in babies can be a horrific challenge for parents to face. Diabetes is a serious illness that can threaten the baby’s life suddenly and unexpectedly. As researchers are not certain of the cause, parents are unable to protect their baby from this condition. The majority of babies that develop Diabetes have type 1 Diabetes, which is also known as Juvenile Diabetes Mellitus, due to the early age of onset.
In this condition, the immune system has compromised the beta cells in the pancreas leaving them unable to secrete insulin. Insulin is required to remove glucose, or sugar from digested food, out of the bloodstream into muscles, fats, and tissues where it can be utilized for fuel. The result is elevated blood glucose levels, or simply a high amount of sugar in the bloodstream. The excess amount of glucose acts like a poison in the body and causes an enormous amount of damage in a short timeframe. Diabetes symptoms in babies will be harder to observe, as a baby cannot openly express that there is an issue. Because of this reason, parents need to be well versed in the signs and symptoms of Diabetes in babies.
Diabetes in Newborn Babies
Diabetes in newborn babies may not be diagnosed until the parents frantically rush their lifeless baby to the emergency room. Since the symptoms of Diabetes in babies can often be vague, most parents may not realize their child’s life is in danger until it is blatantly obvious. By that time, the disease has often progressed to the point of Diabetic Ketoacidosis, which is a critical condition. Diabetic Ketoacidosis occurs when the blood glucose level is dangerously high and the body has begun burning fat stores for fuel. During this conversion, it releases ketones-fatty acids into the blood and urine. If not treated rapidly, the baby can fall into a coma and die. The hospital staff will immediately treat the child with IV fluids and acid and glucose stabilization, in addition to counseling the family.
Symptoms of Diabetes in Babies
Symptoms of Diabetes in babies include the hallmarks of Diabetes, an extreme need to drink and to urinate. Noticing Diabetes in babies’ symptoms will require keeping a close watch on formula or breast milk, and urine output. Many new mothers keep a log of when their baby eats, sleeps, and has wet diapers. If so, a fluctuation should be simple to spot. If the parents are not logging their baby’s routine, being extra observant and noticing obvious details like diapers are more (or less) full, diapers need to be purchased more (or less) often, and formula or breast milk does not last as long. All of these factors would indicate symptoms of increased drinking and urinating. Less urine output would signify the baby is dehydrated.
Additional signs of Diabetes in babies include irritability or fussiness, especially if the baby was very mellow before. Some babies may sleep more often due to extreme fatigue or they may be restless and unable to maintain adequate sleep patterns. A final sign of diabetes in babies is breath that smells like fruit.
