As time goes by, diabetes that is not kept under good control can lead to a variety of serious health conditions, including heart disease, stroke, blindness, amputations, kidney disease, and nerve damage. By maintaining a healthy lifestyle and getting regular checkups for your child, you can reduce these risks and get them in the habit taking care of themselves properly.

Heart Disease or Stroke:

Over time, diabetes may have a big impact on the heart and blood vessels. This is a serious consideration! Your child is at high risk of having a heart attack, stroke, or heart failure when they grow up. According to the American Diabetes Association, these problems can occur at a younger age than they do in people without diabetes, and they are more likely to be deadly. Heart disease and its complications are the leading cause of death in people with diabetes.

These are steps you can take to help your child reduce the risks:

Try to keep your child's A1c value to less than 8 percent. (less than 7 is even better)
Keep your child's blood pressure at a healthy level. Ask your doctor or diabetes care team.
Keep your child's cholesterol levels healthy. Ask your doctor or diabetes care team.
Make sure you talk to your child about the dangers of smoking.
Make sure your child gets enough exercise and eats right.

There are many ways to keep your child's heart healthy and reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems as they grow up. Talk to your doctor or diabetes care team to find out what may help your child.

Nerve damage (neuropathy):

Your child's diabetes can damage the nerves and lead to a condition called neuropathy. This usually affects sensation in the fingers and toes. Eventually, the neuropathy moves up the arms or legs.

Symptoms they need to be aware of as they grow older include:

Tingling
Weakness
Burning sensations
Loss of sensitivity to warmth or cold
Numbness -- if the nerves are damaged enough, the person may be unaware that a blister or minor wound has become infected.
Abnormal blood pressure
Problems with bowel and bladder control
Impotence in men
Bone deformity in foot ("Charcot foot")

Problems in the Feet and Legs:

As your child grows older they are at risk for blood vessel injury, which can be serious enough to cause tissue damage in the legs and feet. If nerve damage also occurs, then your child may not be aware of the injuries that they have in their legs or feet. Once this happens, minor infections sometimes develop into deep tissue injuries that can require surgery. In the worst cases, amputation of the foot or limb may be necessary. Developing the habit of proper foot care now is very important to prevent the need for amputation later in life.

If you have any questions about foot care, loss of sensation, calluses, sores, how to trim your child's nails, which shoes should they wear, call your doctor or diabetes care team now . Check your child's feet regularly. Call your doctor or diabetes care team immediately if you have any concerns in this area.

Kidney disease:

Your child's kidneys filter and clean their blood. If your child's has too much glucose in their blood, it puts a strain on their kidneys. Over time, this can actually lead to kidney failure. When this happens, dialysis or a kidney transplant is needed.

Kidney disease in your child as they grow older can be prevented through good control of glucose levels and blood pressure. Make sure they get a urine test each year to check kidney function. Watch for kidney-related symptoms, unusually colored urine, urination frequency, back pain, chills, fever. Again, make sure your child's blood pressure is kept at a healthy level. If you have any questions ask your doctor or diabetes care team.

Eye Problems:

Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in adults. The most common eye problem that your diabetic child will face as they age is retinopathy. This is caused by too much glucose in their bloodstream, which weakens and damages the blood vessels. A weakened blood vessel may bulge out (aneurysm). The blood vessel may even rupture, leaking blood and fluid into the surrounding tissues (hemorrhage.) Either of these can cause vision problems for your child later in life.

Take your child to an eye doctor at least once a year. Even if vision problems have not started, a doctor can see early warning signs. Notify your eye doctor of any problems such as blurred vision, spots, rings around lights.

People with diabetes are also at higher risk for developing cataracts and certain types of glaucoma.

Other possible complications

Gum disease
Respiratory infections
Urinary tract infections
Scaly and hardened skin
Celiac disease (an allergy to gluten, found in barley, wheat, and rye)
Increased risk of colon and rectal cancer
Hearing loss

We as parents are responsible for helping our children develop good health habits. When they are able to develop these habits as children, it goes a long way towards their maintaining these good habits when they grow up and are responsible for themselves. Do not send your precious child out there unprepared.

This information was adapted from the American Diabetes Association and the A.D.A.M. Health Center

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Last Modified: September 1, 2006

Latest addition to our site: Gum Disease in Children With Diabetes

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Long Term Diabetes Health Risks

Problems in the Feet and Legs: