Does my Child have Blood Sugar Problems?
Does My Child Have Blood Sugar Problems? Most of us don't check our kids' blood sugar. So, chances are you don't know if it's healthy. Still, there may be clues that your child's levels are out of whack, and you may want to give your pediatrician a call. If your youngster just had an ice cream sundae, you could probably guess that their blood sugar is high. You might be right. But if they're healthy, their levels will quickly get back to normal. So that kind of spike isn't really a problem. If their blood sugar levels stay up no matter what they have to eat, that's cause for concern. It could signal diabetes. Constant trips to the bathroom: If it seems like they have to pee all the time, it might be because their body is trying to flush out extra glucose. Extreme thirst: If your youngster is peeing a lot, they're losing a lot of fluids. They may try to get them back by drinking more than usual.
Weight loss despite a big appetite: If your child is having trouble using glucose the right way, their body may start breaking down muscle and fat for energy. Feeling tired, moody, or irritable: A tyke that's too tired to play could literally be lacking energy, since their body isn't getting the fuel it needs. Vision problems: High blood sugar can pull fluid from the eye, making it hard to focus. Yeast infections: Yeast thrives on sugar, which may lead to infections in girls and diaper rashes in babies. You might assume that lower blood sugar is better than high. That's true, but only up to a certain point: If blood sugar goes too low, it means your child won't have enough fuel. If it gets really low (your doctor may call it hypoglycemia), your child could have a seizure or even develop brain damage. A child who doesn't have diabetes might have an episode of hypoglycemia because they skipped lunch before soccer practice.
Does My Child Have Blood Sugar Problems? Most of us don't check our kids' blood sugar. So, chances are you don't know if it's healthy. Still, there may be clues that your child's levels are out of whack, and you may want to give your pediatrician a call. If your youngster just had an ice cream sundae, you could probably guess that their blood sugar is high. You might be right. But if they're healthy, their levels will quickly get back to normal. So that kind of spike isn't really a problem. If their blood sugar levels stay up no matter what they have to eat, that's cause for concern. It could signal diabetes. Constant trips to the bathroom: If it seems like they have to pee all the time, it might be because their body is trying to flush out extra glucose. Extreme thirst: If your youngster is peeing a lot, they're losing a lot of fluids. They may try to get them back by drinking more than usual.
Weight loss despite a big appetite: If your child is having trouble using glucose the right way, their body may start breaking down muscle and fat for energy. Feeling tired, moody, or irritable: A tyke that's too tired to play could literally be lacking energy, since their body isn't getting the fuel it needs. Vision problems: High blood sugar can pull fluid from the eye, making it hard to focus. Yeast infections: Yeast thrives on sugar, which may lead to infections in girls and diaper rashes in babies. You might assume that lower blood sugar is better than high. That's true, but only up to a certain point: If blood sugar goes too low, it means your child won't have enough fuel. If it gets really low (your doctor may call it hypoglycemia), your child could have a seizure or even develop brain damage. A child who doesn't have diabetes might have an episode of hypoglycemia because they skipped lunch before soccer practice.