Spotting signs of Type 1 diabetes in your child

Diabetes does not run in the family of Jennifer Linga. She didn’t have gestational diabetes when she was carrying her son Neo Eliseo, now 6 years old. Diabetes was the last thing they suspected when they brought him to the emergency room at the height of the pandemic two years ago.

“They thought he was just having a normal asthma attack and they made us go home after. But my instinct as a mother kicked in and I knew there was something more,” she said. Thankfully, she listened to her gut feel. They returned to the ER while their pediatrician was on a video call. The pediatrician ordered that Neo be tested for his sugar levels, and that’s when they discovered that he was at 500 mg/dL, when the normal range was between 70 to 100 mg/dL. He was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes (T1D).

Neo was transferred from the isolation room to the intensive care unit, where he remained in a diabetic coma for two days. Linga considers her son’s recovery nothing short of a miracle. She said that some of the symptoms they noticed before their ER trip included her son being very thin, tired all the time, and urinating frequently.

“He was thirsty all the time,” she said. These symptoms are very easy to overlook in a child, especially if they’re active.

Autoimmune condition

Pediatrician Maria Cristina Ignacio-Alberto said that missing the symptoms is fairly common. She enumerated the symptoms as an increase in the frequency of urination, blisters, fatigue, unexplained weight loss, and blurred vision. Those symptoms mean that it’s time to get tested, especially if the child’s urine attracts ants.

“This is why they come to us as medical emergencies. Sometimes the symptoms are very vague, so it’s easy to miss it,” said Dr. Ignacio-Alberto.

She added that the parents are not to blame when a child develops T1D. The medical condition is not caused by neglect, nor is it inherited. The website diabetes.org states that what is inherited is the predisposition to the disease. Dr. Ignacio-Alberto said that T1D is an autoimmune condition triggered by a viral infection. It could be flu, COVID, measles, or common colds, which leave all children prone to it.

Watsons Philippines hosts a campaign titled #Type1Story to raise awareness about the disease. They encourage families to share their stories through the hashtag to help families like them. Finding emotional support is important when you’ve been through something as terrifying as dealing with a coma.

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Dr. Ignacio-Alberto said that management of the T1D is a life-long journey but will not stop a child from leading a normal life. There are no restrictions in activities, for as long as the child is up for it. Food is important. Children with T1D should maintain a high-fiber, low-carbohydrate diet.

Neo has been insulin-dependent for four years. Linga has become one of the administrators of the Facebook page Type 1 Diabetes PH. She actively participates in raising awareness about T1D because she wants to prevent more children from falling into a diabetic coma; some parents even lose their babies to it.

“We want Neo to see that his papa and me are happy while fighting it (T1D) with him. It’s very expensive, but we want him to see that we can do it,” she said.