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Type 1 Diabetes InformationThis Type I Diabetes information was developed pursuant to the Pennsylvania Code (24 P.S. §4141.12) by the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
Type I Diabetes in children is an autoimmune disease that can be fatal if left untreated and the guidance provided in this information is intended to raise awareness about this disease.
Description
Type 1 Diabetes usually develops in children and young adults but can occur at any age
- Type I Diabetes can appear at any age, but it generally appears at two noticeable peaks. The first peak occurs in children between 4 and 7 years old. The second is in children between 10 and 14 years old (Mayo Clinic).
Type I Diabetes affects insulin production
- Normally, the body turns the carbohydrates in food into glucose (blood sugar), the basic fuel for the body's cells.
- The pancreas makes insulin, a hormone that moves glucose from blood into the cells.
- In Type I Diabetes, the body's pancreas stops making insulin, and blood glucose levels rise.
- Overtime, glucose can reach dangerously high levels in the blood, which is called hyperglycemia.
- Untreated hyperglycemia can result in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), which is a life-threatening complication of diabetes.
Risk Factors Associated with Type I Diabetes
It is recommended that children displaying warning signs and symptoms associated with Type I Diabetes, described below, should be screened (tested) for the disease by their healthcare provider.
Risk Factors
Researchers do not completely understand why some people develop Type I Diabetes and others do not. However, having a family history of Type I Diabetes can increase the likelihood of developing Type I Diabetes. Other factors might play a role in developing Type I Diabetes, including environmental triggers such as viruses. Type I Diabetes is not caused by diet or lifestyle choices.
Warning Signs and Symptoms Associated with Type I Diabetes and Diabetic Ketoacidosis
Warning signs and symptoms of Type I Diabetes in children develop quickly, in a few weeks or months, and can be severe. If your child displays the warning signs below, contact your child's primary health care provider or pediatrician for a consultation to determine if screening your child for Type I Diabetes is appropriate:
- Increased thirst
- Increased urination, including bed-wetting after toilet training
- Increased hunger, even after eating
- Unexplained weight loss
- Feeling very tired
- Blurred vision
- Very dry skin
- Slow healing of sores or cuts
- Moodiness, restlessness, irritability, or behavior changes
Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) is a complication of untreated Type I Diabetes. DKA is a medical emergency. Symptoms include:
- Fruity breath
- Dry/flushed skin
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Stomach pains
- Trouble breathing
- Confusion
Type I Diabetes Treatments
There are no known ways to prevent Type I Diabetes. Once Type I Diabetes develops, medication is the only treatment. If your child is diagnosed with Type I Diabetes, their healthcare provider will be able to help develop a treatment plan. Your child's healthcare provider may refer your child to an endocrinologist, a doctor specializing in the endocrine system and its disorders, such as diabetes.
Contact your child's School Nurse or healthcare provider if you have questions.
PADOH Type I Diabetes Fact Sheet - Spanish
References
Act 117 - Parental Education of Type I Diabetes
U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Type I Diabetes
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: Type I Diabetes
Medline Plus: National Library of Medicine - Type I diabetes
(Pennsylvania Department of Health, 2025)
