Lulu, a 4-year-old girl from Zhejiang, China, was once lively, cheerful, and especially fond of sweets. Because she was so adorable and persuasive, her mother often gave in whenever Lulu asked for candy or soda—even though she knew it was unhealthy. During the Lunar New Year, the house was stocked with soft drinks, and Lulu consumed them freely, often replacing water with soda. Her mother, thinking it was just the holidays, allowed it.

Warning Signs

After the holidays, Lulu’s mother began noticing unusual changes. The once energetic child became sluggish and indifferent. She drank excessive amounts of water, urinated frequently, ate a lot but did not gain weight. Believing it was just part of growing up, and being busy herself, her mother paid little attention.

Emergency Crisis

One evening, after drinking soda, Lulu suddenly became weak, started breathing abnormally, then complained of stomach pain and vomited. Alarmed, her parents rushed her to the emergency department at the Second People’s Hospital of Yuhang District in Hangzhou, Zhejiang.

Dr. Cheng Li, the pediatric emergency physician, recalled:

“We found her blood sugar was 31.68 mmol/L—three times higher than normal. She was also in diabetic ketoacidosis, a dangerous complication of diabetes.”

Understanding Diabetic Ketoacidosis

According to Dr. Cheng Li, diabetic ketoacidosis occurs when the body lacks insulin, causing a buildup of ketones in the blood that leads to acidosis. It is a life-threatening complication, often seen in children with type 1 diabetes. Without timely emergency treatment, it can result in coma or death.

He explained further:

“Diabetes doesn’t only cause high blood sugar. It can lead to severe complications such as ketoacidosis, cardiovascular diseases (arteriosclerosis, hypertension, stroke), chronic kidney disease, and nerve damage causing numbness, loss of sensation, ulcers, and infections.”

The Mother’s Regret

Upon hearing this, Lulu’s mother broke down in tears, devastated by the consequences of indulging her child with sugary drinks. Thankfully, Lulu was treated in time, survived the crisis, and is now under close monitoring in the hospital.

A Broader Warning

Through Lulu’s case, Dr. Cheng Li urged families to be vigilant about the dangers of excessive soda consumption, especially for children. Besides diabetes and its complications, frequent intake of sugary drinks can increase the risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, obesity, metabolic syndrome, osteoporosis, hormonal disorders, digestive problems, and tooth decay.

He emphasized:

“Childhood diabetes is rising, particularly when diets are overloaded with sugar and sweets. Since children are easily drawn to sweet flavors, parents must pay closer attention to their eating habits. Watch for warning signs such as excessive thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, and unexplained weight loss—these could be early indicators of diabetes.”