Juvenile Diabetes
What is Juvenile Diabetes? Juvenile diabetes (JD) is the onset of type 1 diabetes mellitus in children. Very much the same as the disease in adults, when a child has diabetes their bodies are unable to make enough insulin or they cannot make proper use of the insulin that is made. When a child has type 1 diabetes, daily insulin injections are necessary for the rest of their lives. Children are diagnosed with JD when their pancreas (the organ that produces insulin) does not make enough insulin on its own or not enough to process the food that is eaten into glucose. Glucose is how our bodies get energy from the food we eat. If a child’s body is not processing the food the sugar (glucose) is spilled into the urine without being used for energy. Juvenile diabetes is also known as an autoimmune disease. The child’s cells destroy the cells in the pancreas that are needed to make insulin. There are greater risks and complications associated with diabetes when it exists in young children. A good health care team and due diligence on the parents’ part is going to be needed to ensure the child receives the best care possible. As a parent you will have to check your child’s blood sugar levels regularly using a blood glucose monitor. It will also be your responsibility to ensure that a proper diet and regular physical activity are part of your child’s life. It is important that other people who care for your child when you are not around know that he or she has diabetes. They need to know what to do in case of an emergency and the special dietary requirements your child requires. It is recommended to get a bracelet or other form of identification that your child can wear that advises they have juvenile diabetes.
Although there is no known cause for juvenile diabetes there are risk factors that can contribute to the likeliness a child will be diagnosed with the disease. As some forms of type 1 diabetes are an autoimmune disease you can be at a higher risk if you have already been diagnosed with a different autoimmune disease. There are also some conditions surrounding a mother’s pregnancy and labor than could contribute to the diagnosis of juvenile diabetes. If your child has been diagnosed with one of these autoimmune disease he or she is considered at a higher risk for diabetes in childhood: There has been some evidence that has shown that a child born to a mother over the age of 35 could be at higher risk for developing type 1 diabetes. This is not conclusive and it is not to say that a child born to a younger mother is not at risk as well. Some studies indicate that a mother who had pre-eclampsia during pregnancy will give birth to a baby with a higher risk of being diagnosed – but this is not a proven fact. Other risk factors include race - people from Northern Europe or areas of the Mediterranean – are considered at higher risk than other races. environmental and dietary factors can play a role too. If a child is under a lot of stress it is considered a reason why he or she may go onto develop type 1 diabetes. Dietary risks factors include high levels of dairy and nitrosamines (used as a preservative in some meats and cheeses). Exposure to toxins is considered a risk factor too.
If diabetes runs in your family, you may already be aware of the symptoms to look for to see if your child might have juvenile diabetes. If the disease is prevalent in your family, your doctor may run routine screening tests as a precautionary measure in the form of blood work. But this isn’t always the case. If your child exhibits any of the symptoms listed below you should schedule and appointment with your health care provider to have them looked into. If your child is exhibiting these symptoms, they could be a sign that he or she has juvenile diabetes: All of the above symptoms could mean that your child has diabetes but only blood work ordered by your doctor will prove that. Another point to note is that the above symptoms do not develop over time; it may be quite obvious to you that something is amiss as these changes can happen quite abruptly.
It can be scary when you realize that something may be wrong with your child. You will want to find out right away what it is and how you can help. The testing that is done to determine if your child has juvenile diabetes is not very evasive and can be determined in a very short period of time. Once you have taken your child to your health care provider, blood work will be ordered to check your child’s blood glucose levels. The first test that is performed is normally a with a blood glucose monitor in your doctor’s office. If the level is high a fasting blood glucose test will be ordered. Your child will not be able to eat for 8-10 hours prior to the blood being drawn. It is best to do this first thing in the morning as soon as your child wakes up. Bring a snack along for your child to eat after the blood work as they are sure to be hungry. Depending on the results from the fasting blood test your doctor will probably order another round of tests to verify the results. This test is also done on an empty stomach and you should make an appointment as you will have to be in the office from 1-3 hours. When you arrive at the lab your child will have some blood drawn and then be asked to drink a beverage that is high in sugar. After one hour another blood test will be conducted to see how your child’s body has processed the sugar. If the three hour test was ordered two more blood tests will be done at the two hour and three hour marks. The results from this test will give your doctor the information needed to make a diagnosis of juvenile diabetes in your child. Go To Home Page
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