Juvenile Diabetes

Diabetes is a condition in which the body does not manufacture or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. The causes of diabetes are various, but both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play important roles.

Juvenile diabetes is also known as Type 1 diabetes. The process that destroys the insulin-producing beta cells can be a long and insidious one. At the point when insulin production bottoms out, however, juvenile diabetes usually appears suddenly and progresses quickly. The symptoms of juvenile diabetes include:

1) Frequent urination
2) Unusual thirst, especially for sweet cold drinks
3) Extreme hunger
4) Sudden, sometimes dramatic, weight loss
5) Weakness
6) Extreme fatigue
7) Blurred vision or other changes in eyesight
8) Irritability
9) Nausea and vomiting which are the acute symptoms

Children with juvenile diabetes may also be restless, apathetic, and may have trouble functioning at school. In severe cases, diabetic coma may be the first sign of juvenile diabetes.

Parents of a child with "classic" symptoms of diabetes may notice that their son or daughter is abnormally thirsty, needs to urinate frequently, and has been losing weight in spite of a good appetite. But, this is only one possible set of symptoms. Sometimes, about 25 % of the children have already progressed to diabetic ketoacidosis by the time they first see the doctor. Because these children may vomit and complain of abdominal pain, their symptoms might be mistaken for the flu or appendicitis. In the most severe cases, the child breathes rapidly and deeply, has a fruity odor in his breath, and may lose consciousness.

Without adequate insulin, glucose builds up in the bloodstream instead of going into the cells. The body is unable to use this glucose for energy despite high levels in the bloodstream, leading to increased hunger.

In addition to this, the high levels of glucose in the blood causes the patient to urinate more, which in turn causes excessive thirst. Within 5 to 10 years after diagnosis, the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas get completely destroyed, and no more insulin is produced.

Juvenile diabetes can occur at any age, but it usually starts from childhood. Symptoms are usually severe and occur rapidly. So, keep a check!