Juvenile diabetes is diagnosed in over 30 US children a day and is most prevalent in Scandinavia, where almost 20% of the population are type 1 diabetics. Juvenile diabetes symptoms include unusual hunger or thirst, loss of weight, numbness of limbs, frequent urination, especially at night, and constant drowsiness. There are other symptoms as well, but children that manifest one or more of these symptoms should be thoroughly tested by a pediatrician to rule out the disease.
Causes of Juvenile Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is the type of diabetes in which the pancreas produces no insulin or extremely small amounts. People with type 1 need to take insulin injections in order to live. While insulin allows a person with type 1 diabetes to stay alive, it does not cure the disease, nor does it prevent the development of serious complications, which can be many and varied. High blood sugar levels eventually damage blood vessels, nerves, and organ systems in the body.
Experts have suggested that juvenile diabetes may be caused by heredity. According to scientists, people who have the genetic tendency to develop Coxsackie, rubella, and mumps viruses may also develop juvenile diabetes. This is because such viruses can trigger the onset of the disease. But this does not mean that the viral infection directly causes juvenile diabetes. Instead, viral infection only intensifies the symptoms of the disease making way for its possible development. Simply put, some people who have family history of diabetes may not manifest the disease unless triggered by the believed risk factors such as viruses.
Symptoms Of Juvenile Diabetes
Juvenile diabetes is also known as Type 1 diabetes. The process that destroys the insulin-producing beta cells can be a long and insidious one. At the point when insulin production bottoms out, however, juvenile diabetes usually appears suddenly and progresses quickly. The symptoms of juvenile diabetes include:
Frequent urination
Unusual thirst, especially for sweet cold drinks
Extreme hunger
Sudden, sometimes dramatic, weight loss
Weakness
Treatment of Juvenile Diabetes
Treatment of Type 1 diabetes involves:
Diet
Insulin
Self-monitoring of blood glucose
Exercise
