From the Guidelines
Pediatric signs of diabetes include increased thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, increased hunger, fatigue, irritability, blurred vision, slow-healing sores, and recurrent infections, and parents should be aware of these symptoms to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment. According to the American Diabetes Association, as stated in 1, childcare staff should be aware of the signs of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia in children with diabetes, including unusual behaviors, increased urination or drinking, and elevated blood glucose levels. The symptoms of diabetes in children can develop rapidly, and if left untreated, can lead to serious complications such as diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) 1.
Key Symptoms
- Increased thirst (polydipsia)
- Frequent urination (polyuria)
- Unexplained weight loss
- Increased hunger (polyphagia)
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Blurred vision
- Slow-healing sores
- Recurrent infections
Importance of Early Diagnosis
Early diagnosis is crucial in preventing long-term complications of diabetes, and parents should be aware of the signs and symptoms to facilitate prompt evaluation and treatment. As noted in 1, blood glucose monitoring, insulin administration, and food intake scheduling are essential tasks in managing diabetes in children.
Type 1 vs. Type 2 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is more common in children, and symptoms often develop rapidly over days to weeks, whereas type 2 diabetes may present with more subtle symptoms or be detected through screening in high-risk children 1.
Recommendations
Parents and caregivers should be vigilant for the signs and symptoms of diabetes in children and seek medical attention immediately if they suspect diabetes. Healthcare providers should prioritize early diagnosis and treatment to prevent long-term complications, as emphasized in 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
The safety and effectiveness of Insulin Glargine to improve glycemic control in pediatric patients with diabetes mellitus have been established Use of Insulin Glargine for this indication is supported by evidence from an adequate and well-controlled study (Study D) in 174 Insulin Glargine-treated pediatric patients aged 6 to 15 years with type 1 diabetes mellitus, and from adequate and well-controlled studies of Insulin Glargine in adults with diabetes mellitus [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3), Clinical Studies (14. 2)]. In the pediatric clinical study, pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes had a higher incidence of severe symptomatic hypoglycemia compared to the adults in studies with type 1 diabetes [see Adverse Reactions (6.1)].
The signs of diabetes in pediatric patients are not explicitly stated in the provided drug label. However, it can be inferred that severe symptomatic hypoglycemia is a significant concern in pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes, and its incidence is higher compared to adults.
- Hypoglycemia symptoms may include:
- Shakiness
- Dizziness
- Sweating
- Hunger
- Irritability
- Confusion
- Difficulty speaking
- Loss of consciousness
- Pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes may exhibit these symptoms, but the label does not provide a comprehensive list of signs specific to pediatric diabetes. 2
From the Research
Pediatric Signs of Diabetes
There are no research papers provided that directly discuss pediatric signs of diabetes. The studies available focus on comparing different insulin therapies in patients with type 2 diabetes, primarily in adult populations.
Available Studies
- The studies provided compare the efficacy and safety of various insulin regimens, including biphasic insulin aspart 30 plus metformin, insulin glargine plus glimepiride, insulin lispro mix 25, and premixed insulin lispro programs 3, 4, 5, 6.
- Another study compares the efficacy and safety of rapid-acting insulin analogs, lispro versus aspart, in the treatment of diabetes 7.
- These studies do not provide information on pediatric signs of diabetes, but rather focus on the management of type 2 diabetes in adult patients.
Key Findings
- The studies suggest that different insulin regimens can have varying effects on glycemic control, weight gain, and hypoglycemia risk in adult patients with type 2 diabetes 3, 4, 5, 6.
- The comparison of rapid-acting insulin analogs, lispro versus aspart, found comparable efficacy and safety in adult patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes 7.
- However, these findings do not provide insight into pediatric signs of diabetes, as the studies were conducted in adult populations.