Kids

Signs Of Diabetes Parents Can Look For In Kids

by Kevyn Gohu
July 1, 2025

Here are some signs of diabetes in kids that parents need to look for in their kids

Many often think that diabetes is a late-life disease. However, that’s usually for Type 2, not Type 1. So, there can be signs of diabetes in kids! Type 2, the one many are familiar with, or diabetes mellitus, usually occurs late in life because our bodies are already resistant to the sugar-reducing hormone insulin (Type 2 Diabetes in Children – Symptoms and Causes, n.d.). On the other hand, Type 1, also known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, happens during childhood (Type 1 Diabetes in Children, 2024). Because the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin, those who have it require injections and glucometers early on.

Here are some signs of diabetes in kids:

1. Abnormally thirsty

Sure, kids cough and get thirsty after all the running and exercise. But diabetes makes kids thirsty even if they’re just standing around. It’s why thirst is one of the most common signs of diabetes in kids! As their sugar levels skyrocket, their bodies struggle to get rid of it and prompt their brains to ask us for water or any liquid they feel can wash it out. This sign, unfortunately, leads us to the next one…

2. The constant need for the bathroom

Because they drink a lot of water to flush out the sugar, they’re more prone to needing the bathroom. Younger children have a harder time keeping it in, which is why they wet the bed more often. While it’s a pain to keep washing the sheets, please remember it’s not their fault. The body is designed to keep them alive. Even if it is in the most inconvenient ways.

Some parents make them use diapers while others put a pee pad on the bed to soak it up.

3. Moody

We don’t mean just tantrumsTantrumsSudden outbursts of crying, screaming, or flailing, common in toddlers who cannot yet express big feelings. Staying calm, keeping the child safe, and talking afterward help, and clear routines and. Meltdowns, low episodes, inability to sleep, and all! Sugar is one of the main sources of energy in the body. Think of it like money. When we need to buy a service, we need to use money. Sugar works like that; by breaking down sugar into blocks the body can use for energy, we can move and do other things. The same applies to kids!

Unfortunately, diabetes prevents them from breaking down sugar properly. There are days when they’ll have too much sugar. Other days, they’ll have little to no sugar at all. That can affect how they think and behave. Fast.

4. They get tired easily

Without sugar, their bodies will have a hard time moving. It’s why they’ll feel tired the majority of the time. Sports may frustrate them because they’ll be jealous of the other kids and how they can move so easily. Kids with diabetes, on the other hand, will feel like a floppy ragdoll that’s just dragging itself everywhere (Elwadhi and Paharia, 2025).

5. Sudden weight loss

Because the body can’t break down sugar, it flushes it out. And when there’s no sugar, where does it turn to? Fat. The body enters a constant state of ketosis wherein it breaks down fat for energy. The problem is that, medically, ketosis is a last resort process. Bodies don’t normally thrive purely on fat. The energy release is much slower, and considering what kind of activities we want the kids to have, it may not be enough.

6. Fruity breath

Yes, this is even after they brush their teeth! Ketones, or the components the body uses for energy after breaking down fat, often have a fruity smell like a candied apple. No amount of brushing one’s teeth and mouthwash will change their breath because it’s coming from their stomach. When that happens, we suggest seeing a pediatricianPediatricianA doctor who specializes in the health of babies, children, and teens. Regular visits for checkups, growth tracking, and vaccines give parents a trusted guide, and a good pediatrician listens because that means their blood sugar may be dangerously low (Kumar et. al, 2025).

7. Extremely hungry

While kids are famous for breaking down food faster than they eat it, extreme hunger causes them to eat everything in sight. So long as they feel the food will give them energy, they will eat it. While we love having a child who eats easily, in extreme cases, it’s a warning sign for diabetes. Their sudden urge to eat everything and anything means they’re running low on energy, and that’s because their body can’t break down the sugar to provide them with any.

Managing diabetes can feel “punishing” for kids

Nobody likes being poked and prodded by needles, but diabetes is just one of those life-long conditions that demand it. Having diabetes patches, round-the-clock glucometer checks, staying away from the brightly colored food that their friends are eating, etc,. can make a kid feel they’re being punished. And if we don’t explain it to them, they’ll feel like they’re getting beaten down for no reason when some of these measures are life-preserving and saving (Kichler & Kaugars, 2021).

It’s why we suggest explaining to them as early as possible. Analogies help, like the whole “sugar is money, and the body is like a shop that provides services” works. Other parents describe living with diabetes as “having an irreplaceable broken cog in a machine” that needs extra care. Either way, talking about diabetes with them early on helps them manage it when they get older. Especially if diabetes runs in the family! (Steck et. al, 2022; Feig et. al, 2023)

References

Elwadhi, A., & Paharia, K. (2025). Hyperglycemia-induced movements disorder in diabetic kids: correspondence 2. Indian Journal of Pediatrics, 1-1.

Feig, D. S., Sanchez, J. J., Murphy, K. E., Asztalos, E., Zinman, B., Simmons, D., Haqq, A.M., Fantus, G., Lipscombe, L., Armson, A., Barrett, J., Donovan, L., Karanicolas, P., Tobin, S., Mangoff, K., Klein, G., Jiang, Y., Tomlinson, G., Hamilton, J., & Sigmund, A. (2023). Outcomes in children of women with type 2 diabetes exposed to metformin versus placebo during pregnancy (MiTy Kids): a 24-month follow-up of the MiTy randomised controlled trial. The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, 11(3), 191-202.

Kichler, J. C., & Kaugars, A. S. (2021). Kicking in Diabetes Support (KIDS) intervention effects: Parent reports of diabetes management. Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology, 9(2), 135-144.

Kumar, R., Ansari, E., Kundu, S., & Raj, A. (2025). Hyperglycemia-induced movements disorder in diabetic kids. Indian Journal of Pediatrics, 92(5), 554-554.

Steck, A. K., Dong, F., Geno Rasmussen, C., Bautista, K., Sepulveda, F., Baxter, J., Yu, L., Fronhert, B.I., Rewers, M.J., & ASK Study Group. (2022). CGM metrics predict imminent progression to type 1 diabetes: Autoimmunity Screening for Kids (ASK) study. Diabetes Care, 45(2), 365-371.

Type 1 diabetes in children. (2024, August 14). Johns Hopkins Medicine. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/diabetes/type-1-diabetes-in-children

Type 2 diabetes in children – Symptoms and causes. (n.d.). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-2-diabetes-in-children/symptoms-causes/syc-20355318