What is type 1 diabetes in young children?
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William Lee Dubois answered:It’s a poorly understood auto-immune disease that causes the body to mistake the insulin producing cells of the pancreas for invaders. The body’s immune system then attacks these pancreatic “beta” cells and destroys them, taking with them the body’s ability to produce insulin. As you cannot live without insulin, it’s a potentially fatal case of “friendly fire.”
Fortunately, while complicated and stressful for both the parents and the child, it is a treatable disease.
Note that I said treatable, not curable.
Type 1 diabetes is controlled by taking insulin from outside the body to replace the insulin that is missing from the inside. Children will need several shots per day, or need an insulin pump to control their blood sugars; but they can live long, happy, healthy lives.
It’s a poorly understood auto-immune disease that causes the body to mistake the insulin producing cells of the pancreas for invaders. The body’s immune system then attacks these pancreatic “beta” cells and destroys them,... More -
RealAge answered:Also known as insulin-dependent or juvenile onset diabetes, this condition occurs when the pancreas produces too little insulin, the hormone that allows blood sugar (glucose) to enter body cells and be used as fuel.
Without adequate insulin, glucose builds up in the bloodstream, but the body is unable to use it for energy.
From Good Kids, Bad Habits: The RealAge Guide to Raising Healthy Children by Jennifer Trachtenberg.
Find out more about this book: Good Kids, Bad Habits: The RealAge Guide to Raising Healthy Children
Also known as insulin-dependent or juvenile onset diabetes, this condition occurs when the pancreas produces too little insulin, the hormone that allows blood sugar (glucose) to enter body cells and be used as fuel. Without adequate insulin,... More
