A Parents’ Guide for Juvenile Diabetes

Diabetes is a condition where a person’s blood sugar level is much higher than normal for the reason that either the body is not producing enough insulin or the body’s cells does respond properly to the available insulin. This high level of blood sugar results in many medical complications, some of which are fatal.

There are a lot of misconceptions about Diabetes. One of them is that diabetes is an adult affliction; nevertheless, diabetes—more specifically type 1 diabetes—disregards age; hence, you have juvenile diabetes. Unfortunately, medical science has yet to discover why juvenile diabetes develops among toddlers and teenagers. It is suspected that genetics, environmental triggers, and pathogens play an important role in the progress of such disorder.

Juvenile Diabetes: Its Effects on Your Child’s Body

Insulin is an important hormone produced by the pancreas so that sugar can be converted into energy that can be used by the body’s cells. What happens when a child is diagnosed with juvenile diabetes is that the body’s own immune system attacks the pancreas, leaving it unable to produce enough insulin. As a result, sugar levels start to increase in the bloodstream.

Juvenile diabetes has a number of symptoms, such as excessive thirst and hunger, weight loss, tiredness, and frequent urination. Stomach aches, headaches, and behavioral problems are also common among children and teenagers afflicted with the disorder.

Treatment for Juvenile Diabetes

Although type 1 and type 2 diabetes share a common set of symptoms, it is important to point out that they do not share the same type of treatments. Juvenile diabetes requires a specific set of treatments that can only be given in hospitals or specialized clinics. These treatments are often aimed at suppressing the body’s immune system and more importantly, control the sugar levels in the bloodstream.

This means that the child is going to need an individual insulin routine, which is specially prepared for the child’s specific needs. The reason for this is that juvenile diabetes manifests differently among individuals. Depending on the age, the state of health, and the child’s environment; some children would need more insulin injections while others would have less.

What Parents Can Do

Having a child with juvenile diabetes can be very difficult. Often, parents feel a sense of powerlessness as they see firsthand the suffering of their children because of juvenile diabetes. What parents can do is to be vigilant in monitoring the child’s blood sugar levels. Giving them a healthy balanced diet is also very important. Thus, putting in the time and care as well as working alongside a diabetes expert are the best things parents can do.