Diabetes Basics
Juvenile Diabetes
Diabetes in general is caused by the body's
inability to break down glucose and store it properly. When an
individual's system is unable to process glucose efficiently, most of it
gets stored in the person's bloodstream thereby creating all sorts of
health problems.
Juvenile Diabetes is also
known as Type 1 diabetes or childhood diabetes or insulin-dependent
diabetes. In juvenile diabetes, the pancreas does not create any
insulin. Insulin, a hormone that moves sugar from the bloodstream to the
cells after digestion, so that it can be used as energy. Since
individuals with juvenile diabetes produce no insulin at all, they need
to receive injections of it to keep their blood sugar at appropriate
levels. The beginning of juvenile diabetes usually comes in childhood
and adolescents as opposed to Type 2 Diabetes.
Children diagnosed
with juvenile diabetes are insulin dependent. Current research indicates
that juvenile diabetes is an auto-immune disorder, similar to other
disorders such as, rheumatoid arthritis or multiple sclerosis. A small
percentage of individuals may also develop thyroid conditions.
Kids
suffering from juvenile diabetes look like everyone else, the only
difference is that their bodies do not make insulin anymore. As such,
juvenile diabetes can be treated only with insulin either injected or
inhaled with careful monitoring of blood glucose levels. Emphasis is
also placed on lifestyle adjustments such as diet and exercise. The
treatment for juvenile diabetes must be continued indefinitely.
Treatments does not clash with normal activities, if carried out with
care and discipline. The average glucose level for the type 1 patient
should be as close to normal (80–120 mg/dl, 4–6 mmol/l) as possible. In
severe cases of juvenile diabetes, values above 300 mg/dl (15 mmol/l)
usually require immediate treatment and may lead to ketoacidosis.
It
is estimated that over one hundred and twenty million individuals
worldwide have diabetes. And people suffering from Juvenile diabetes or
Type 1 diabetes form about 30 % to 40 % of the lot.