It's all too easy to mistake a type-1 diabetic as a kid sweating through a bout of the flu. But the source could be more serious. When the body can't metabolize glucose, it seizes upon fat for energy and produces an acidic chemical called keto — similar to the acetone found in your nail polish — as the body struggles to neutralize its blood Ph level. "The buildup of acid makes them feel lousy," says Tamborlane. Kids then feel the urge to vomit. "Things spiral in a vicious cycle," he says, leading to that lousy bedridden feeling.


One iVillager's Story
"My little boy Beau is 6 years old. He was diagnosed on 8/23/06. He would have a hard time walking at the mall... it was like he couldn't lift his legs anymore and I would have to carry him. He would every now and then throw up, usually at night. The thing that really triggered me was his frequent urination and the one minute playing hard and the next minute lying there. Mommies know their children and my instinct was right. I'm glad it got caught as soon as it did!" — mommal2006

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