Diabetes is a chronic disease that can affect children and adults, and understanding the warning signs amongst children can make a significant difference in preventing and treating the disease . According to a recent report from the American Diabetes Associatio, one in every three children born on the Millennium or after will become diabetic .
Children as young as 10 years old are now developing type 2 diabetes, despite the disease initially being known as adult-onset diabetes. Type 2 diabetes develops when a body becomes resistant to insulin, and sufficient amounts of the hormone cannot be produced. Those people who have diabetes stand at considerably more risk of developing complications throughout the course of their disease.
The warning signs of diabetes amongst both children and adults could include the frequent need to urinate, nausea and vomiting, or extreme hunger. Being aware of the symptoms of diabetes means that teachers, parents, healthcare and youth workers could spot the disease early, potentially changing the course of a child’s life.

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