What is Juvenile Diabetes and What are the Symptoms?
Introduction
Juvenile Diabetes is sometimes referred to as Type 1 Diabetes or Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM). It is called Juvenile because it normally occurs in younger people as opposed to Type 2 Diabetes which usually develops later in life and is discussed in the next major section.
All the terms mentioned refer to the condition in which the pancreas has stopped producing insulin. Normally the pancreas produces the hormone insulin, which controls the level of glucose in your blood. Juvenile Diabetes is treated with insulin injections, usually one with each meal and perhaps an additional one at bedtime. New types of insulin are being developed that can reduce the number of injections required each day.
Symptoms
If you are worried that you or a friend may be exhibiting symptoms of Juvenile diabetes, the typical signs are:
- Increased thirst and more frequent urination: Glucose in your urine causes your body to take more water out of your blood which in turn forms more urine and makes you more thirsty.
- Weight loss The lack of glucose causes the body to break down muscle and fat tissue into glucose (which ends up in your urine).
- Increased hunger Linked to the weight loss problems mentioned above.
- Tiredness As insulin is normally used to allow glucose into cells that need them, such as muscles, you feel constantly tired.
If you are worried, you should contact your doctor immediately for a simple test. Early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent nasty situations such as passing out at a dangerous moment. You need to learn about Hypos and insulin and how to control your diabetes quickly, more on all this later. Of course having all or some of the above symptoms does not necessarily mean you have Diabetes, but it would be wise to seek professional medical advice quickly.
Information on Type 2 diabetes is given in the next major section, a third type of diabetes is gestational diabetes, which can occur temporarily during pregnancy. A further type of diabetes "Pre-diabetes" is discussed here.
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More Resources
[ www.jdrf.org ]
[ www.childrenwithdiabetes.com ]
[ www.joslin.org ]
[ www.diabetes.org
]
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[ Symptoms ] [ Initial Diagnosis ] [ Risks ] [ Treatments ] [ Injection Sites ] [ Pens and Syringes ] [ Insulin Pumps ] [ Infusion Sets ]
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