In the absence of insulin, the dangerous level of glucose in the bloodstream demands a way out of the body. "You get rid of the excess by excreting it through urine — and that makes us thirsty," says William Tamborlane, MD, director of the Children's Diabetes Program at Yale University's School of Medicine. Children who've been potty-trained for years may start wetting the bed, he says.


One iVillager's Story
"We found out Kaylee had diabetes one month before her third birthday. She would have five cups of juice and water, and throw herself to the floor in a crying fit if we wouldn't give her more. The constant urination was unbelievable. She'd wet the bed 4 or 5 times a night, and not just a little, but like someone dumped a bucket of water on her bed. When we took her to the doc to rule out diabetes, what a shock we got, but we caught it very early... we were lucky." — jaylinkaylee

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