Campaign Set to Increase Parental Awareness of Type 1 Symptoms

Delayed diagnosis leading to high instances of DKA in children…

Type 1 is the most common form of diabetes in diagnosed children and adolescents. In 2009, the CDC reported the prevalence at 1.93 in every 1,000 children and adolescents, whereas type 2 diabetes affects 0.24 in every 1,000.

In a study, results showed that the incidence of type 1 diabetes in children up to 9 years old increased by 21% between 2001 and 2009, while incidence of type 2 diabetes among youths aged 10-19 increased by 30.5%.

The most common symptom of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes among children and adolescents is increased thirst and urination, fatigue and weight loss. Some children may also experience increased hunger and blurred vision, while in girls with type 1 diabetes, it is common to develop yeast infections. These symptoms tend to develop rapidly over a period of a few weeks in type 1 diabetics. Parents should take their children to a doctor if they exhibit the aforementioned symptoms. However, there still seems to be a lack of awareness when it comes to identifying these symptoms in children.

Only 14% of parents can identify the four main symptoms of diabetes, according to a 2012 survey from the Diabetes UK charity. Barbara Young, chief executive of Diabetes UK says, “In too many cases, children with type 1 diabetes are not diagnosed until they are seriously ill, and in a few tragic cases, this delay in diagnosis can be fatal.” Children with a delayed diagnosis can develop diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), which is the leading cause of mortality in children with type 1 diabetes.

So what can be done to improve early diagnosis of diabetic children? We can focus on the ‘4Ts’, a campaign initiated by Diabetes UK to increase awareness among parents.

The ‘4Ts’

• Toilet – using a toilet frequently, heavier diapers in babies or bedwetting in a previously dry child
• Thirsty – drinking more fluids than usual but being unable to quench thirst
• Tired – feeling more tired than normal
• Thinner – weight loss

The organization states that if a child is showing any of the four ‘Ts’, parents should take them to the doctor right away, and insist on an immediate diabetes test that consists of a finger prick to analyze the child’s blood sugar level.

Practice Pearls:

• Increases in prevalence and incidence in type 1 diabetes in children is concerning.
• An increase in awareness of the signs of diabetes in children and adolescents is necessary to help early diagnosis.
• Parents should be taught to follow the ‘4Ts’ and bring a child immediately to the doctor if they are showing any one of the symptoms.

JAMA, 5 Nov. 2014. Web. 6 Nov. 2014.