Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system gets confused and attacks and kills the cells in the pancreas that make insulin. Without insulin, the body can’t process glucose (sugar) effectively. Cells can no longer absorb glucose and use it for energy. Instead, glucose builds up in the blood.

When blood sugar levels remain high for a long period of time, serious complications can occur, including nerve damage, heart attack, stroke and more. This is why it’s critical to identify type 1 diabetes early.

Type 1 diabetes can develop at any age, but there are peak periods between ages 5 and 6 and then again at 11 to 13. Research has shown that hormones may impact the timing or onset of diabetes.

What causes type 1 diabetes?

Only about 5% of people with diabetes have type 1. Diabetes can run in the family, so having a family member with diabetes—especially a parent or sibling who has been diagnosed—increases a child’s risk of developing the disease. Scientists also believe the body attacking its own cells in type 1 diabetes could be triggered by something in the environment, even a virus.

While there is no cure for type 1 diabetes, the condition is manageable with the right care. Your child will need to replace the insulin the body no longer makes with daily insulin injections or by using an insulin pump.

“With proper insulin therapy, plus a healthy diet and exercise habits, kids with type 1 diabetes are able to live long, fulfilling lives,” says Daniel Hsia, MD, pediatric endocrinologist and diabetes specialist.

If a child with type 1 diabetes is displaying symptoms, it means that the body isn’t processing glucose as it should. That’s why it’s important for parents to be educated and vigilant.

Contact your pediatrician immediately if you notice any of these early symptoms of type 1 diabetes in your child.

• Increased thirst (always asking for something to drink or thirst cannot be quenched)
• Frequent urination (sometimes the first sign is bedwetting in a child who has been dry at night)
• Extreme hunger (or eating more than usual without feeling full)
• Weight loss despite eating more than usual
• Fatigue
• Blurred vision
• Irritability or unusual behavior
• Vaginal yeast infection in girls who haven’t started puberty or diaper rash in babies caused by excessive yeast

If these early symptoms aren’t recognized and treatment isn’t started, more serious symptoms can develop requiring emergency care. These may include:

• Belly pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Labored, rapid breathing (possibly with fruity or sweet-smelling breath)
• Loss of consciousness

A diabetes diagnosis can be overwhelming. There’s a lot to learn to ensure your child receives the right care. But the good news is that you don’t have to navigate this journey alone. Your child’s doctor will refer you to a diabetes specialist who will help you learn more about the specifics of managing your child’s diagnosis. As part of their diabetes care, you’ll be meeting with a team of providers on a regular basis.

With your help and the help of your child’s diabetes management team, your child or teen will eventually learn to manage their condition on their own. They will be taught how and why it’s important to:

• Take insulin as prescribed by pump or injection.
• Eat a balanced and healthy diet that involves carbohydrate counting.
• Monitor their blood sugar and check their blood sugar levels throughout the day.
• Exercise regularly.

The key is to address diabetes head on. If poorly managed, type 1 diabetes can cause long-term complications early in adulthood, including heart disease, stroke, vision impairment, kidney damage, skin problems and nerve damage.

With lots of support and supervision from you and your child’s care team, eventually managing their disease will become just another part of your child’s daily routine.

As you and your child begin navigating the many steps required to manage type 1 diabetes effectively, here are some questions to ask your diabetes management team:

• How often should I check my child’s blood sugar levels?
• Are there warning signs if glucose levels get too high or too low?
• What if my child is afraid of insulin shots?
• Are there any foods that I should not allow my child to eat?
• What do I need to tell the school about my child’s condition?
• How does exercise affect my child’s blood sugars?
• At what age should I allow my child to take over managing type 1 diabetes?

Coping with a diagnosis

If your child or teen gets frustrated with having to manage the disease, ask your diabetes management team for the name of a therapist. Be available to listen to your child when they come to you with their frustrations. Help them find support groups in their communities. There are also many websites with information and resources for teens to help them cope with the diagnosis.