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The first thing that Indian parents need to know when their child develops diabetes is what precisely is juvenile diabetes. Juvenile diabetes is primarily an autoimmune disorder and is also known as type 1 diabetes. As suggested by the name, this form of diabetes is generally diagnosed in childhood or adolescence, which is in sharp contrast to type 2 diabetes because the latter commonly affects adults.
Individuals with all types of diabetes share one common feature: high amounts of glucose (or sugar) in their blood.
How Does Glucose Work In Those With Juvenile Diabetes?
After you consume any food, your body successfully breaks down the food into glucose (or sugar) and other substances, which enters the bloodstream. In response, your pancreas releases insulin, which is a hormone that assists fat and muscle cells to use glucose for energy.
When it comes to children with juvenile diabetes, their immune system starts to get confused and begins attacking the beta cells of the pancreas, thus shutting down the production of insulin. Without insulin to successfully guide glucose into the cells of the body, glucose begins to build up in the blood, leading to a wide range of health issues.
Who Gets Juvenile Diabetes?
The most common age when children are generally diagnosed with juvenile diabetes is between the years 10 and 16. This is probably because puberty triggers an increase in the production of hormones (such as oestrogen and testosterone) that may affect blood sugar levels.
Causes Of Juvenile Diabetes
The precise cause of juvenile diabetes is not yet known. Besides the obvious cause of the body’s own immune system (which typically fights bacteria and viruses) mistakenly destroying the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas, genetic factors, exposure to viruses, and environmental factors may cause the development of juvenile diabetes.
Juvenile diabetes is not linked to any specific gene that you can successfully test for. Although autoimmune disorders run in families, most instances of juvenile diabetes appear to occur in a random manner.
Other possible factors that play a role in the development of this condition are listed below:
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Ethnicity And Geography:
The condition is more common among individuals who live further away from the equator. For instance, Scandinavian countries. Moreover, Caucasians of Northern European ancestry are at a higher risk.
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Genetics:
Although there is no specific gene that leads to juvenile diabetes, there exist several genes and genetic mutations that can increase a child’s risk of developing juvenile diabetes. For instance, mutations in HLA (human leukocyte antigen) class of genes.
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Family History:
If autoimmune diseases run in your family, that eventually means that your child is at a higher risk of developing the same.
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Toxins And Infections:
Researchers are of the opinion that a specific toxin or virus triggers the commencement of this condition.
Symptoms Of Juvenile Diabetes
The signs and symptoms of juvenile diabetes can appear in a sudden manner and may include:
- Increased thirst
- Frequent need to urinate
- Bedwetting
- Severe Hunger
- Unintended and unexplained weight loss
- Irritability and mood changes
- Weakness and fatigue
- Blurry vision
Treatments For Juvenile Diabetes
- Taking shots of insulin
- Counting of carbs, fats, and proteins to be consumed
- Frequent monitoring of blood sugar levels
- Consuming healthy food items
- Regular exercise and maintenance of a healthy weight
The ultimate goal is to keep your blood glucose levels in the normal range to delay or prevent diabetic complications.
Insulin And Other Medications
Anyone with juvenile diabetes needs insulin therapy on a lifelong basis. Some of the most common types of insulin include short-acting or regular insulin, rapid-acting insulin, intermediate-acting or NPH (Neutral Protamine Hagedorn) insulin, and long-acting insulin.
Insulin can be administered via injections or an insulin pump. In addition, CGM (or Continuous Glucose Monitoring) is the most advanced way to monitor blood sugar levels.
How To Help Your Child
As a parent, you can help your child lead a happier and healthier life by offering constant encouragement, learning all the essential information about juvenile diabetes, and ensuring that your child eats well, exercises regularly, and stays on top of blood sugar control every day.
Living with diabetes is quite a challenge for anyone, but children and teenagers have special issues that need to be tackled. Young children may not understand the need for blood sugar monitoring, insulin shots, or intaking medicines. They may be terrified, uncooperative, or angry.
Hence, you need to offer stupendous support and courage.
On A Final Note
Having a child diagnosed with juvenile diabetes may seem to be a tad overwhelming at times; however, you must realise that you are not alone. If you are confronted with problems or questions, make it a point to seek professional help.
