Signs of diabetes in children: what parents need to know

Published July 2025 | 7 min read
Expert contributors: Dr Gary Deed, Chair, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) Diabetes Specific Interest Group; Karina Savage, paediatric dietitian
Words by Lucy E Cousins

Discover the signs of type 1 diabetes in children, understand the key risk factors and get expert-backed tips to help prevent type 2 diabetes.

When normally energetic six-year-old Augie from Broken Hill became lethargic and started losing weight despite eating more food than usual, her mother, Danielle, knew something was wrong.

A local GP diagnosed Augie with a urinary tract infection, but a week later, she was still unwell and unresponsive to medication.

After managing to book an appointment at a local medical centre operated by Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), Danielle’s suspicions were confirmed. Shortly afterwards, Augie was flown by the RFDS to Adelaide for specialist treatment.

In Australia, the number of diabetes diagnoses in children like Augie has been rising, with Diabetes Australia’s The State Of The Nation 2024 report showing a 17% increase in people under the age of 20 over the past decade.

“One of the biggest misunderstandings parents can have,” says Dr Gary Deed, Chair of the RACGP Diabetes Specific Interest Group, “is assuming diabetes won’t affect their children.”

Luckily, there are some clear early signs to look out for, as well as several ways to help prevent type 2 diabetes in children in the long term.

What are the different types of diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition where the body’s own immune system attacks the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.

Risk factors include:

• family history
• genetics
• age (the two peak ages for diagnosis are five- to seven-years-old and 10- to 14-years-old)
• some environmental triggers.

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition where the body either doesn’t produce enough insulin, or the insulin it produces doesn’t work properly, leading to high blood-glucose levels.

Risk factors include:

• family history
• weight and diet
• lifestyle factors including fitness levels and smoking
• ethnicity (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as well as those from the Pacific Islands, the Indian subcontinent and South-East Asia are considered to be at higher risk)
• age and sex.

While both types of diabetes can affect children, type 1 diabetes is more common among Australian children, with around 13,200 people aged zero to 19 living with the condition in 2021. Type 2 diabetes occurs much less frequently in children, and, unlike type 1, it is preventable. Although there aren’t reliable national figures for type 2 diabetes in Australian children, a recent study by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, published in The Lancet, estimates that by 2050, 30% of the world’s children and adolescents (aged five to 24) will be overweight or obese. In Australia, it’s expected to reach 50% – a 146% increase since 1990. Given the strong link between excess body fat and chronic health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, a rise in cases of type 2 diabetes is also likely.

“The cause of the rise of type 1 diabetes is unknown and still requires international research. We’re not across the absolute reason why,” says Dr Deed. “However, with type 2, you can understand the rise by looking at the change in how we live and function socially, the lifestyle issues associated with being more sedentary, and the unhealthy food choices we sometimes make.”

The impact of diabetes on kids and family

After a diabetes diagnosis, the impact – both mentally and physically – can be significant, says Dr Deed. “Because of the serious nature of type 1 diabetes, a diagnosis can have [a] big emotional impact both on the child as well as the carers and parents. Alongside this is the physical impact of the diagnosis, including the risk of hospitalisation, illness and sometimes the long-term effects on childhood cognitive development if it’s a younger child.”

Dr Deed says there’s a growing effort in Australia and overseas to screen younger children early for signs of type 1 diabetes – but it’s still at the research stage.

“For type 2 diabetes, reducing the impact may involve lifestyle change, but the [diagnosed] child now carries a lifelong risk of conditions like high blood pressure, kidney disease and heart disease,” he explains. “This can also add to the mental distress of a diagnosis.”

A diabetes diagnosis has also been linked to mental health challenges. A recent study found two in five children with diabetes also have a mental, behavioural or developmental disorder, while further studies found a significant connection between people with type 2 diabetes and ADHD, and people with either type of diabetes and depression.

Early warning signs and symptoms of diabetes

For both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, Dr Deed says being vigilant and spotting the early signs and symptoms is key – in particular the ‘4Ts’:

1. Thirsty: Feeling unusually thirsty and needing to drink more water than usual.
2. Toilet: Going to the toilet more often, especially at night, or bedwetting in children who were previously dry.
3. Thinner: Losing weight without trying, even if eating a normal amount.
4. Tired: Feeling unusually tired, weak or fatigued, particularly when compared to usual energy levels.

If you notice any of these symptoms in your child, Dr Deed advises taking them to be assessed urgently. In addition, paediatric dietitian Karina Savage says to look out for:

• darker patches of skin in certain areas of the body (especially around the neck, armpits or groin)
• increased hunger because their body isn’t able to access sugar properly
• changes in mood and increased irritability due to fluctuations in blood sugar levels.

Managing type 1 diabetes in children

After a diabetes diagnosis, it’s important for parents to seek medical support from a local GP, create a support network and get the appropriate referrals, says Dr Deed. This is especially important with type 1 diabetes.

“If your child is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, you’ll need a ‘safety net’ plan where you've got all the health professionals lined up,” he says. “They’ll need specialist involvement, such as a diabetes educator, endocrinologist, and other allied health team members including psychologists, to support the child and their family.

“Children and families are contending with a sudden diagnosis, and shifting perceptions of their own health,” he adds, “as well as having to engage with multiple health professionals, change their lifestyle, maybe take multiple medications – including injectable medications – and in some cases, constant blood glucose monitoring.”

For Danielle, finding support was an important part of learning to manage her daughter’s type 1 diabetes. Living remotely, she relied on connecting with others in the community who had the condition and staying in touch with Augie’s healthcare team through regular telehealth appointments. Now 11, Augie manages her condition with a blood glucose meter and travels to Adelaide several times a year for in-person medical check-ups.

For extra support, eligible HCF members and their children can access a range of mental health services. These include This Way Up^*, offering evidence-based online programs developed by experienced psychiatrists and clinical psychologists, a free HealthyMinds Check-in^{^} with a psychologist for adults and teens aged 12 to 17, and Calm Kid Central⁺, an online educational support program to help kids aged four to 11 manage life’s tough situations.

Ways you can reduce your child's risk of type 2 diabetes

While type 1 diabetes isn’t preventable, parents can reduce the risks of their family developing type 2 diabetes with some simple, practical steps, says Karina.

• Keep kids active: “More exercise and less screen time help improve insulin sensitivity and help kids to stay a healthy weight,” she says. The current government recommendation for five to 17-year-olds is for at least 60 minutes of physical activity that makes the heart beat faster every day.

• Offer a balanced diet: “Include a good amount of whole grains, plant-based fibre, lean proteins and healthy fats, as this helps regulate blood sugar and keeps kids fuller longer.” For up-to-date Australian dietary guidelines, visit the government’s Eat For Health website. 

• Avoid sugary drinks: “Simply avoiding the high-sugar drinks like soft drinks, cordial and flavoured milks can drastically reduce sugar intake,” says Karina. Instead, choose water and sugar-free options.

• Role-model healthy eating: “Nutrition shapes everything, from our children’s energy levels, learning and mood, to their gut microbiome, immune health and risk of chronic disease, including diabetes.” Try to eat a healthy balanced dinner together most nights and avoid drinking or smoking in front of children.

When it comes to healthy eating, children often carry their taste preferences and eating habits with them into adulthood, Karina adds. “How we feed our children today sets them up for life. For this reason, it’s important to set them on the right path early.

“The goal isn’t perfection, but small changes to improve their eating, done consistently, can make a big difference in the long run to your child’s health.”

Healthy eating for the whole family

Nutrition plays an important role in the management and prevention of type 2 diabetes in children. We’ve partnered with Ethos Health to bring our members Healthy Families for Life and Healthy Teens for Life, which are resources to support kids, from birth to teens, to develop positive nutritional habits for growth and development, and reduce the risk of chronic conditions in their future^#.