Many people know about type 1 diabetes but do not know about juvenile diabetes. In fact, juvenile diabetes and type 1 diabetes is one and the same. This type of diabetes is called juvenile diabetes because it starts during the childhood. The number of children suffering from juvenile diabetes is growing everyday.
Why Is The Juvenile Diabetes Dangerous For Children?
This root cause of this disease is actually originating from the malfunction of the autoimmune system of the body. The Beta cell in the body, which are produced in the Isles of Langerhans (pancreas) die or are too weak to produce the required insulin for the body. This is the direct result of a failure of the autoimmune system of the body. Hence, the juvenile diabetes is actually an outfall of the autoimmune system in a child.
Once the diagnosis is made, the problem is over. Insulin shots would be prescribed to regulate the sugar in the body of the juvenile diabetes patient, who will then lead a completely normal life. The patient usually is administered insulin by a family member – the child will sometimes need up to five shots per day to regulate the glucose in the body.
Of course, once the children are diagnosed with juvenile diabetes, they will need to be fed a special low starch and carbohydrate diet, to avoid sudden increase of sugar in the blood. The good news is that once the diet is controlled properly, the dependence on insulin becomes minimal.
Insulin was discovered in 1920 and it has become ever since a boon to diabetic patients all over the world. It is always advisable to have an information card in the pockets of the child (or in the form of a laminated id around the neck worn in the inside of the regular clothes) saying that he/she is suffering from juvenile diabetes and in case of any emergency the doctors should be aware of the fact.
Often, over-cautious parents tend to cut off the entire sugar intake, causing hypoglycemia where the child may faint, be delirious or go into coma. At that time, if the child is given insulin then this can cause death. Hence, it is a good idea to be very careful about the diet the child follows.
Maintain a healthy balance of sugar in his/her diet and have the sugar levels tested often. The insulin dosage should be given accurately and on time. Be in constant touch with the child’s doctor (or your family doctor) until you understand and master the problems caused by juvenile diabetes.
