Dealing with Diabetes in teenagers can be an emotional time, not just for the teen, but also for the entire family. Parents may feel anxious about how their growing teem will handle such a momentous responsibility, while the teen may wonder if they will ever have a normal life again. Going through puberty is difficult without having the added burden of a diagnosis of Diabetes Mellitus. Parents need to be supportive, but aggressive in helping their teens understand that this disease is manageable, but daily accountability is essential for survival.
Diabetes in teenagers may be type 1 or type 2 Diabetes and while the symptoms of diabetes in teenagers are the same for each condition, the causes and treatment vary. Type 1 Diabetes is the most prevalent in adolescents between one and ten, while type 2 is more rampant in kids ages eleven through twenty. Teenagers who develop type 1 will become ill very suddenly, while type 2 Diabetics experience a slow onset of symptoms.
In type 1 or Juvenile Diabetes, the beta cells in the pancreas do not produce insulin needed to transfer glucose out of the blood and into tissues where it can be used for energy. In type 2, the pancreas makes insulin, but the body is resistant to it and thereby unable to absorb it. In both cases, the result is high blood sugar levels. Type 1 is treated with insulin, diet, and exercise, while type 2 is cared for with only diet modification and exercise.
Diabetes Symptoms in Teenagers
Diabetes symptoms in teenager sare marked by a pronounced increase in drinking fluids and urinating frequently. These two symptoms are classic symptoms of Diabetes in teenagers, children, and adults alike. As the body struggles with the large amounts of sugar in the blood, the kidneys try to compensate by flushing out the poisonous sugar, thus leaving the body dehydrated. This starts a vicious cycle of the e teenager drinking more and needing to use the bathroom more.
Teenagers are often hungry, especially when they play sports or experience a growth spurt, but a voracious appetite can signal the onset of Diabetes as well. The lack of insulin, or resistance to insulin, will not allow the body to absorb the nutrients from digested food, so regardless of what the teenager consumes, he will remain hungry. He may even lose weight due to this process and from dehydration of tissues.
Signs of Diabetes in Teenagers
Signs of Diabetes in teenagers can vary from one teen to another. Sudden changes in mood and personality can indicate Diabetes or Depression, which are related conditions. Many Diabetics notice fluctuations in their moods or feel irritable when their blood glucose levels are too high or too low. Teenagers who have been diagnosed with Diabetes may also become depressed because they feel different socially.
When parents ponder, “What are signs of Diabetes in teenagers?” they may already have an idea that something is awry. They should be especially curious if their teen is lethargic or suddenly starts sleeping a lot. Fatigue is common in Diabetes in teenagers. In addition, recurring infections or slow healing wounds can be a symptom of Diabetes as well.
