Juvenile Type Diabetes: When It Strikes

Type 1 diabetes usually occurs in children and so it is commonly called juvenile type diabetes. This chronic disease is caused by the inability of the body, particularly the pancreas to produce sufficient amount of insulin needed by the body to absorb glucose in order to produce energy. When sugar is not absorbed as it should be, its level builds up in the blood and urine causing the patient such symptoms as thirst, hunger, abnormally frequent urination, hard breathing, rapid weight loss and irregularity in protein and fat metabolism resulting to fatigue or lack of energy.

Juvenile type diabetes commonly occurs in puberty usually between ages 10 to 12 in girls 12 to 14 in boys. Scientists claim that what triggers this disease are genetic make up and environmental factors such as certain viruses. Most of the time, parents are taken by painful surprise when their kids get diagnosed with juvenile type diabetes. Questions like how and why flood their minds as they try to come to terms with the reality that their kids are not as healthy as they thought they were.

Caring for juvenile type diabetes patients entails much learning and patience as children are likely to resist treatments especially involving injections of insulin and regulating their diet particularly their food intake. Insulin is usually injected through a hypodermic needle and cannot be taken orally because it is destroyed in the digestive system. However, there has been an approved form of insulin by the United States Food and Drug Administration that is inhaled and absorbed by the blood in the lungs. Whichever way, proper mind conditioning, physical and emotional preparation and care for the juvenile patient should be administered so that the treatment goes well and works well for the patient. Treatment for juvenile type diabetes patients involves different areas of concern. Aside from properly monitoring insulin level of the patient, managing his or her diet is also very important, the spacing of meals and the content and sugar composition of his or her food should also be properly checked. An improper diet can worsen the condition of the patient. Some results may include sudden rise in blood sugar levels, hypoglycemia or too low blood sugar level, or development of diabetes related complications such as blurred vision, heart and kidney failure, seizures, nerve damage, among others. A good exercise regimen is also recommended by health experts for juvenile type diabetes patients alongside carefully controlled diets and medications.

What may sound simple could actually be hard for those directly involved in administering care for juvenile type diabetes patients. The mental, physical, and emotional effect of it on the patient and on those caring for the patient like family members and friends can be daunting. The key to proper care and patient management is accepting the condition and doing what is necessary to keep that condition at safest level possible. Care and more care is what the juvenile patient needs. When the disease strikes, love should strike back. Consequently, the disease will be dealt with in the best way possible.