Type 1 Diabetes: Children Living With the Disease

Risk factors for very high or low blood sugar levels in a child with type 1 diabetes include:

• Age. Very young children are at the greatest risk for very low blood sugar, because they are often not able to communicate symptoms.
• Tight blood sugar control. Although keeping your child's blood sugar levels tightly within a Reference target range is important, this puts him or her at risk for frequent low blood sugar levels.
• Persistent high blood sugar levels. Children who have persistent high blood sugar, indicated by higher hemoglobin A1c test results, are at greater risk for Reference diabetic ketoacidosis Opens New Window than children with lower levels.
• Puberty. Reference Growth spurts Opens New Window and changing Reference hormone Opens New Window levels that occur during puberty make it difficult to keep a child's blood sugar level within a target range.
• Psychiatric conditions. Children with Reference depression Opens New Window, Reference anxiety disorder Opens New Window, Reference panic disorder Opens New Window, or Reference eating disorders Opens New Window are at increased risk for frequent high and low blood sugar levels.

Risk factors for these complications include:

• Persistent high blood sugar over time. The higher your child's blood sugar levels and the longer they remain high, the greater his or her risk of having complications in early adulthood.
• Length of time having the disease. The longer your child has diabetes, the more likely complications will develop, even if blood sugar levels are controlled.
• Having one of the complications. If one complication develops, your child is at risk for having others.
• Smoking, Reference high blood pressure Opens New Window, Reference high cholesterol Opens New Window, and a family history of diabetic complications.

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This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Reference Terms of Use. Reference How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.