Symptoms

The process that destroys the insulin-producing beta-cells can be a long and insidious one. At the point when insulin production bottoms out, however, Type I Diabetes usually appears suddenly and progresses quickly. Warning signs of Type I Diabetes include:

• Frequent urination. (In children, this can manifest as a recurrence of bed-wetting after toilet training has been completed.)
• Unusual thirst, especially for sweet, cold drinks.
• Extreme Hunger.
• Sudden, sometimes dramatic, weight loss.
• Weakness.
• Extreme fatigue.
• Blurred vision or other changes in eye sight.
• Irritability.

Children with Type I Diabetes also may be restless, apathetic, and have trouble functioning at school. In acute cases of Type I Diabetes, nausea and vomiting may occur. In severe cases, diabetic coma may be the first sign of type I diabetes.