About diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes that occurs in children and adolescents, affecting 1 in 500 school-age children. Certain people are born with the genetic risk of developing Type 1 diabetes. If their immune system is triggered against the cells that make insulin (the beta cells in the pancreas, an organ located near the stomach), these beta cells are damaged and destroyed.
When up to 90 percent of these cells are damaged, symptoms of diabetes begin. Early symptoms include increased urination, increased thirst, and hunger. Over the course of several days to several weeks, if diagnosis is not made, the symptoms worsen and lead to dehydration, irritability, fatigue, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, and possibly coma.
People with Type 1 diabetes need insulin to survive. Insulin is a hormone that helps the body's cells make energy from the food that is eaten. Insulin works by helping transport the glucose (or sugar) from food into the cells of the body where energy can be made. Without insulin, glucose levels rise dangerously high in the blood.
Insulin can not be absorbed in an oral form. The only way to deliver insulin today is by an injection. People with diabetes may take one to four or more injections of insulin every day or use an insulin pump to deliver the insulin constantly throughout the day.
Food and exercise need to be matched to insulin doses to help keep the blood glucose levels in safe ranges. Blood glucose monitoring is done several times throughout the day to help evaluate the effectiveness of the insulin given and help determine the dose of insulin. Insulin is not a cure for diabetes.
Research in diabetes is ongoing. Much of the research is directed at finding a cure for diabetes, both for those destined to get it and those who already have it. Other research is directed at maximizing the benefits and outcome of treatment. Because of this research, the care of diabetes is changing frequently. Ongoing research and advances have helped to expand and improve products and offer simpler or more successful strategies to manage diabetes.
While historically much less common in young people, during the last few years Type 2 diabetes has begun to occur at an alarming rate in children and teens. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the cells in the body becoming resistant to insulin. The pancreas is still capable of making insulin, but the cells of the body don't respond to the insulin, not allowing the glucose from the food eaten to enter the cells.
Children with Type 2 diabetes are usually overweight and have a close relative with Type 2 diabetes. The risk is higher in certain ethnic groups (in African-Americans, in Mexican-Americans, and in Native American Indians). Treatment can often consist of weight loss and exercise. Oral medication can also be used. Insulin is sometimes necessary.