Diabetes Daily Dose

In honor of November being National Diabetes Month, I encourage all of us who understand diabetes so well to share our stories and talk about the signs and symptoms, in hopes of helping others get diagnosed early and potentially saving lives.

Here is our diabetes story and a list of potential warming signs every parent should know.

Something felt off with Katelyn—she just wasn’t herself. It was a hot fall day, 95 degrees, and she had been playing soccer with her team for two hours. I thought to myself, That’s why she’s so thirsty. I was even glad to see her drinking water, my girl who had always avoided it. But I grew more concerned when she told me she’d “stolen” a friend’s water bottle at practice because she was “dying of thirst.”

When I returned home, Katelyn mentioned that she was going to the bathroom constantly—so much so that she nearly wet her pants in French class. For sure this was because she was now drinking so much. 

She seemed exhausted, too. The next evening, she fell asleep in the living room, mouth open, dead asleep, as pale as a ghost. I walked down the street to talk to a friend and neighbor who also has a teenage daughter, just to ask, Is this normal for teenage girls?

I called Neil, who was out of town, and we agreed I’d take her to the doctor on Monday. But we never made it to Monday. Saturday morning, Katelyn was violently ill, vomiting so much and so severely there was no pretending something wasn’t wrong. Her eyes looked sunken, and her skin had turned gray.

I left my two boys sleeping and rushed her to the pediatrician. Within 30 seconds, he asked for a urine sample and came back almost immediately with a diagnosis: type 1 diabetes. Katelyn was admitted to the ER as her condition quickly worsened, and she spent three days in the ICU due to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).

The warning signs were all there. But I was in denial. I couldn’t bear the thought of my sweet girl having this terrible disease, so I convinced myself that her thirst, frequent trips to the bathroom, weight loss, and fatigue were all from dehydration, the heat, or soccer.

Here’s a general list of Type 1 diabetes warning signs, starting from the more subtle ones and moving toward the more severe. These may vary from person to person:

1. Increased Thirst (Polydipsia): Often one of the earliest signs, as high blood glucose levels can lead to dehydration.
2. Frequent Urination (Polyuria): High glucose levels cause the kidneys to pull extra water out of the bloodstream, leading to more frequent trips to the bathroom.
3. Increased Hunger (Polyphagia): Due to insulin deficiency, the body isn’t able to use glucose effectively for energy, which may lead to constant hunger.
4. Unintended Weight Loss: Without sufficient insulin, the body starts breaking down fat and muscle for energy, leading to weight loss.
5. Fatigue: As glucose isn’t being used efficiently for energy, people with Type 1 diabetes often feel tired and weak.
6. Blurred Vision: High blood sugar can lead to fluid shifts, including in the lenses of the eyes, causing temporary blurring.
7. Bedwetting in Children: For children who were previously dry at night, bedwetting can be an early sign.
8. Mood Changes: Irritability or unusual behavior can be a result of fluctuating blood sugar levels.
9. Fruity-Smelling Breath: As the body starts to burn fat for fuel, it produces ketones, which can give breath a fruity odor.
10. Nausea and Vomiting: This can occur as ketones build up, leading toward a more severe condition.
11. Abdominal Pain: As the body struggles to cope without insulin, abdominal discomfort may arise.
12. Confusion or Difficulty Concentrating: Severe blood glucose fluctuations can impact mental clarity.
13. Rapid Breathing: Known as Kussmaul breathing, this symptom occurs when the body tries to get rid of excess acids (ketones).
14. Loss of Consciousness: This is a sign of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention.

Type 1 diabetes can escalate rapidly, it’s critical to seek medical care immediately if you or someone you know is experiencing these symptoms.