Childhood Diabetes is also called Type 1 Diabetes. A child or young person that has diabetes is in a situation where their body does not create enough insulin, and as a result, it needs to be treated by taking insulin shots to provide for the insulin not being produced in the body.
The production of insulin, which is an important hormone, happens in the pancreas. The food a child eats is broken down by the body into a sugar called glucose. The sugar is carried through the blood and gives the body energy. Insulin helps the sugar enter the cells in the body and controls the amount of sugar in the blood.
In diabetes there is too much sugar in the blood because there is not enough insulin to balance out the sugar. This can cause many heath problems, and if they are not treated, these problems can end up being fatal.
In childhood diabetes (Type 1 Diabetes), the pancreas cannot create enough insulin because many of the cells in the pancreas are being destroyed, sometimes due to the body’s immune system destroying the cells. Sometimes Type 1 Diabetes occurs due to hereditary factors, as it can be genetic and run in families.
Some symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes are excessive thirst, urinating a lot and losing weight. Some of the treatments include learning about the disease and learning about what type of diet can be helpful and healthy for diabetes. It is important for the family to learn this information as well.
Another part of treatment is controlling blood sugar through use of a glucose meter to check the levels, but just as importantly, exploring the choices for a good diet and sticking to it. Keytone tests are also important. Keytone tests test the urine to tell you if enough insulin is being produced. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you how they work.
Continuous treatment and monitoring through your family’s or child’s doctor is essential, not only for the child that is diagnosed with diabetes, but also to have the entire family tested, as well.
Juvenile, Childhood or Type 1 Diabetes can be managed and controlled in a way that will allow your child to live a normal life, doing the same things that other children do. There is a lot of information available. One of the best sources of information is the American Diabetes Association. You can call them at 1-800-342-2383 or visit the on the web at www.diabetes.org.
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