Juvenile Diabetes

Learn about Juvenile Diabetes....

Juvenile diabetes – otherwise known as Type 1 diabetes - is an autoimmune disease.

This means the immune system deems the insulin producing cells in the pancreas to be an enemy. So it attacks and abolishes them.

Usually this happens to children and occurs with barely any warning or even no warning at all.

So those with type 1 diabetes have to rely on insulin from an outside source to be pumped or injected into them.

Maintaining the correct insulin levels is not the only thing juvenile diabetics have to worry about. There are life-changing problems which can occur from juvenile diabetes.

Insulin is injected lots of times throughout the day. If they do not use a syringe, type one diabetics wear a pump to give a continuous source of insulin all day.

Usually this pump has an attachment to keep check on blood sugar levels as this has to be checked several times during the day. The blood sugar level can also be checked by a finger prick test.

Blood-glucose levels often have to be checked about six times daily. 

Usually this is checked whenever the diabetic eats because food is mainly what makes the difference to the blood-sugar levels.

If they keep check with the amount of sugar in their blood, diabetics can make sure they don’t have bad consequences from having too high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemic) or too low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemic).

If someone does go into a “hyper” or “hypo”, this can have life threatening effects.

People have to be very wary of this occurring because there are so many things which can set it off such as stress, illness, medications, changes in hormonal levels, growth periods and physical activity.

Even though most cases of Type 1 diabetes happen while in childhood, adults can still be diagnosed with the disease.

No one knows exactly what causes juvenile diabetes. 

However, many scientists have the theory that it is based largely on our genetics or environment.

There are at least 3 million type 1 diabetics just in the United States.

On a typical day, there are 35 new cases of juvenile diabetes diagnosed. 

There are over 13 thousand people becoming dependant on insulin just to stay alive every year.

Do you think you or your child suffers from type 1 diabetes?

Here are some questions which will hopefully help you find out:

• Does the person you are worried about urinate frequently?

• Is this person perpetually hungry or thirsty?

• Has sudden weight loss occurred without any obvious reason?

• Does the person you are worried about breath heavily?

• Do they ever slip into unconsciousness?

If any of the answers to these questions are yes, especially the last one, it is probably ideal to get it checked out by your Doctor immediately.

If there is any chance of the person you are worried about being a diabetic, you must get the problem under control straight away before any permanent damage is inflicted.

Insulin is not a cure, but it does stop any damage to the body and helps diabetics to lead healthy and long lives.

It helps prevent kidney failure, heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure or damage to the nerves - any of which could be the result of mistreated or unnoticed diabetes.

Diabetes is a life-long disease. But if it is monitored correctly and looked after properly, it is easy rule.

Gain your control over it before it gains control over you.