Paediatric Diabetes

What you'll notice or feel

• Drinking much more than usual or waking at night to drink.
• Passing urine frequently or new bed-wetting in a previously dry child.
• Unexpected weight loss, tiredness or reduced concentration.
• Blurred vision, recurrent infections or reduced school performance may occur.

Common causes

• New-onset Type 1 diabetes from loss of insulin-producing beta-cell function.
• Less commonly, Type 2 diabetes or another form of diabetes in a young person.

What it could be

• Diabetes requiring prompt glucose and ketone assessment.
• Another illness if glucose testing is normal.

When to see a doctor

• Symptoms suggest diabetes, even if the child otherwise appears well.
• A home or laboratory glucose result is repeatedly high.

What you'll notice or feel

• Daily insulin is required to replace the insulin the body can no longer produce.
• Glucose levels change with meals, activity, illness, growth and puberty.
• School, sports, travel and sleepovers require practical planning.

Initial self-care

• Follow the individual insulin and glucose-monitoring plan supplied by the diabetes team.
• Ensure carers and school staff know how to recognise and treat low glucose.
• Keep rapid-acting glucose and the prescribed emergency treatment available.

When to see a doctor

• Glucose patterns remain frequently high or low despite following the current plan.
• Insulin doses, devices or school-care plans need review.

What you'll notice or feel

• The condition may be found on screening and may cause few symptoms.
• Increased thirst, frequent urination or tiredness can occur.
• There may be obesity, acanthosis nigricans or a strong family history of Type 2 diabetes.

Common causes

• Insulin resistance together with insufficient insulin production for the body’s needs.
• Puberty can temporarily increase insulin resistance.

What it could be

• Type 2 diabetes, although distinguishing diabetes type in young people sometimes requires specialist assessment.

When to see a doctor

• Glucose or HbA1c is in the diabetes range.
• A young person has obesity plus symptoms or strong diabetes risk factors.

What you'll notice or feel

• Shaking, sweating, hunger, irritability or sudden behaviour change.
• Weakness, dizziness, reduced concentration or headache.
• Overnight lows may cause restless sleep, nightmares or morning symptoms.

Initial self-care

• Treat low glucose promptly according to the child’s diabetes plan.
• Recheck glucose as advised and provide longer-acting carbohydrate when the plan recommends it.
• Review exercise, meal timing and insulin if lows recur.

When to see a doctor

• Hypoglycaemia is frequent, unpredictable or affecting school and activities.
• The child has impaired awareness of low glucose.

What you'll notice or feel

• Glucose may rise during fever, infection, vomiting or other illness.
• Ketones can appear when there is not enough effective insulin.
• Insulin needs may change even when food intake is reduced.

Initial self-care

• Follow the child’s written sick-day plan and do not stop basal insulin unless specifically instructed.
• Check glucose and ketones at the intervals recommended by the diabetes team.
• Encourage appropriate fluids and seek advice early if vomiting persists.

When to see a doctor

• Ketones persist despite following the sick-day plan.
• The child cannot keep fluids down or glucose remains difficult to control.

What you'll notice or feel

• As adolescents become more independent, responsibility gradually shifts from parents to the young person.
• School, college, driving, alcohol, relationships and work can affect diabetes routines.

Initial self-care

• Build independent skills gradually: insulin, glucose interpretation, prescriptions and appointment planning.
• Keep family support available while encouraging age-appropriate responsibility.

When to see a doctor

• Diabetes care is being missed during adolescence or transition.
• There are concerns about treatment burden, mood, eating behaviour or risk-taking.