Learningly

Juvenile onset diabetes, also known as Type I diabetes, is normally diagnosed in childhood or adolescence. However, it can begin at any age.

Diabetes is a condition for which there is no cure—only treatment. It occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin to maintain proper blood sugar levels. Insulin is needed for the body to take glucose (sugar) from the bloodstream and store it in cells.  Without it, the glucose remains in the bloodstream, where the body is unable to tap it for energy. Diabetes can cause the pancreas to completely stop producing insulin.

Before juvenile onset diabetes is diagnosed, some patients will experience no symptoms whatsoever. Many, though, report some or all of the following:  being perpetually tired, feelings of excessive hunger or thirst, frequent urination, even at night, unexplained weight loss, blurred vision, or numbness or tingling in the feet. If the blood sugar levels are extremely high, symptoms may include rapid respiration, dry mouth, nausea or vomiting, or flushing of the face. They may also have a distinct fruit smell to their breath.

Juvenile onset diabetes is normally diagnosed through one of a variety of blood glucose tests. Some types require fasting for a period (usually 12 hours) before the test, while some are performed at various periods of the day. A physician may also order a ketone test; ketones are the by-product produced when the body is burning fat or muscle. A urinalysis is performed and the ketone levels are measured.

Complications from juvenile onset diabetes are common, and much medical attention is directed to the prevention of complications. These may include vision loss, renal failure, and nerve damage, particularly in the feet and legs.

Patients with Type I diabetes must learn to give themselves insulin injections, and should be conscientious about checking their glucose levels. Naturally, in the case of a child, the parent or caregiver will be required to handle, but by the time the patient reaches his or her teens, responsibility is usually shifted from the parent to the patient. With proper medical care and experience, they learn how to make adjustments in insulin doses when they are sick or involved in strenuous exercise. There are several different types of insulin, each with its own signature as to how quickly it begins to take effect and how long that effect will last.

People with juvenile onset diabetes may need an injection three or four times a day. The injections only need to penetrate the skin as opposed to entering a muscle or blood vein.  A new, sterile needle should be used for each injection. Some patients may be able to utilize an insulin pump, instead.

Diet is also an important part of the treatment plan. Meals should be eaten around the same time each day, and should consist of the same types of food. The main factors in determining the proper diet for diabetics is the carbohydrate and protein count of the food rather than calories or food group.

Advances in the health care field have made it possible to control the symptoms of juvenile onset diabetes, and while there is still no cure for the condition, complications can be minimized, enabling the patient to live a full, normal life.