Does Your Baby Have Diabetes?

When it comes to diabetes, the sooner your diagnosis the better.

After all, learning to manage your condition takes time, and the sooner you can get adjusted, the sooner you’ll be able to live a healthy, fulfilling life.

But what do you do when the diabetic in your family can’t even talk, much less monitor glucose? Here are some signs to watch for in your baby which could indicate diabetes:

Frequent Urination

Excess sugars in your child’s bloodstream will pull fluid from vital tissues. As a result, he or she may be exceptionally thirsty. This means your baby will want to drink more than usual, and you might find yourself with an excess of wet diapers!

Extreme Hunger and Weight Loss

Babies are voracious little things, but a constantly hungry baby is something to be wary of. Without enough insulin to move sugars into the cells, your little one might eat unceasingly and still lose weight – sometimes rapidly.

Unfocused and Fatigued

When the cells are deprived of sugar, they simply don’t have the energy to function. As a result, your baby might be tired and lethargic more frequently. Also, if you notice your baby has difficultly focusing his or her vision, this could be a sign of diabetes. As a baby’s blood sugar rises, fluid can be sucked from the eyes, leaving your child with blurred vision.

If you notice any of these symptoms in your child, it is best to take him or her to a doctor right away. This way, if your baby is diabetic, you can receive the medication and information he or she needs.

With the right medication and a few dietary adjustments, you can be a healthy, happy little family without a hitch (at least until you hit those terrible twos)!

Source: The Mayo Clinic