Juvenile diabetes is a chronic disorder caused by the body’s inability to manage sugar or glucose and store it properly to be used as fuel. When the body can’t efficiently break down glucose to be absorbed by the cells, it stays in the blood and causes health problems. An estimated one hundred and twenty individuals worldwide have diabetes, of which, approximately 3 percent have juvenile diabetes. It is projected that juvenile diabetes affects one in every 7,000 children per year. More cases reported concern individuals who are less than twenty years old.
Type 1 diabetes and juvenile diabetes are the same. The term juvenile refers to the onset of the disorder which begins in childhood. Children who are diagnosed to have juvenile diabetes depend on insulin to equip their body with the necessary insulin levels to convert food into energy. Research conducted by medical practitioners and scientists indicate that juvenile diabetes is an autoimmune disorder. Autoimmune disorders are characterized by the breakdown of the body’s immune system, which directs the immune response of the body toward fighting its own defenses. With juvenile diabetes, it is believed that the body’s beta cells in Isles of Langerhans of the pancreas are destroyed automatically, hindering sufficient insulin production.
Administering insulin shots as many as five times a day to properly regulate glucose in the body may treat juvenile diabetes. Insulin does not cure diabetes, it helps in managing the blood sugar levels of diabetics to improve their lives. Years ago, being diagnosed with juvenile diabetes would have meant a quick death sentence. The discovery and use of insulin in the early 1920′s benefited countless people diagnosed with juvenile diabetes and is widely used now. Aside from insulin shots, there are also individuals who need to undergo constant fluid therapy to balance the electrolyte level in the blood that results from excessive urination.
A healthy and well-planned diet for those with juvenile diabetes is also very important to properly manage the disorder.
Related Articles of Interest :
-
Type 1 Diabetes
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus or juvenile onset diabetes are some of the other terms that refer to type 1 diabetes, a lifelong disease that marks insufficient insulin production for proper regulation of the body’s blood sugar levels. Type 1 diabetes accounts for 3 percent of all...
-
Diabetes Mellitus
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
The word diabetes is taken from the Greek word diabainein which literally means ‘passing through.’ This is in direct reference to excessive urination, a major symptom of diabetes. Mellitus, on the other hand, is from the Greek word mel meaning ‘honey’ and was added to...
-
Diabetes FAQs
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Diabetes is a disease that causes the blood glucose levels go above normal, i.e. above 80-120 mg/dl. The hormone insulin secreted by the pancreas keeps blood glucose level low. Diabetes occurs when your body either doesn’t make sufficient insulin or you lack the mechanism of...
-
Diabetes Medications
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Diabetes medications are attempted when normal diabetic diet, weight loss and exercise fail to bring blood sugar to a normal range. They include oral drugs and hypodermal injections. Medication usually starts when the average blood glucose levels are greater than 150 mg/dl (8 mol). Diabetes...
-
Diabetes
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Diabetes has acquired its name from the Greek word “siphon”. Diabetes is a disorder of the metabolism and the endocrine system, and is a blood-related disease. It has two forms: Diabetes mellitus (from the Greek word for sugar) and Diabetes insipidus. The main causes of...
-
Diabetes Medication
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Blood glucose control is managed by proper meal planning, weight loss and exercising. At times however, these actions are not adequate to bring blood glucose levels down to their normal range. Medication is in the form of oral pills and insulin shots. Blood glucose levels...
-
Symptoms of Diabetes
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Diabetes is a disorder of the body’s sugar-regulation abilities. Most of the time it goes undiagnosed because the symptoms are not very clear. There are many symptoms, but they don’t appear in all cases. The symptoms include frequent urination (polyuria), which occurs because of the...
-
Diabetes Supplies
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Diabetes is a lifelong disease and can affect any one at any age or time. For many years this was considered to be a life-threatening disease, as there was no remedy. With improvements in research many therapies have been developed. The first step in controlling...
-
Feline Diabetes
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Even cats are not spared from the dangers of diabetes. Feline diabetes is a complex yet common disorder in cats caused by insufficient insulin production or the cat’s inability to respond to insulin. Feline diabetes is very similar to diabetes and how it affects humans,...
-
Diabetes Supplements
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Researchers have found that certain herbal products, vitamins and minerals can help in the treatment of diabetes. These products are commonly known as diabetes supplements. Many diabetes supplements assist in controlling diabetes by controlling blood glucose levels. Using them in conjunction with exercise and sensible...