Bedwetting, frequent urination may signal diabetes in Children – Specialist

Dr Harriet Dufie Morgan, a Member of the Endocrine Society of Ghana and an Endocrinology Fellow in Training, has urged parents and teachers to pay attention to unusual changes in children’s urination patterns, excessive thirst and unexplained weight loss, which could be early signs of Type 1 diabetes.

She warned that failure to identify the symptoms early could expose affected children to serious and potentially life-threatening complications.

Speaking at a media engagement organised with support from the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) to mark World Diabetes Day, Dr Morgan identified frequent urination, excessive thirst, unusual tiredness and unexplained weight loss as key warning signs.

She also advised parents to seek medical attention when children who have previously stopped bedwetting suddenly begin doing so again.

Teachers, she said, should equally be alert to pupils who frequently request permission to leave the classroom to urinate and notify their parents to seek medical assessment.

Dr Morgan explained that Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body’s immune system attacks the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, leaving the body unable to produce sufficient insulin.

She stressed that the condition is not caused by lifestyle choices and cannot be prevented through changes in diet or exercise.

She further cautioned that children with undiagnosed Type 1 diabetes could develop diabetic ketoacidosis, a serious complication that may present through vomiting, abdominal pain and severe dehydration.

The specialist emphasised that early diagnosis and appropriate treatment were essential, noting that people living with Type 1 diabetes require insulin to survive.