Facts About Type 1 Diabetes

If you have a child who has just been diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, there are many things you'll need to learn. It's so important that you have the basic facts on this disease so that you can help your child to deal with this problem. Here is a look at some of the important facts you should know about this type of diabetes.

Young Children are Affected
First of all, one of the main facts about Type 1 Diabetes is that it is young children that are usually affected by this type of diabetes. Usually it comes on suddenly in children and requires them to have some form of insulin for the rest of their life. There are also a variety of different complications that occur. Although usually it affects children or even teens, in some cases it can strike adults too. Essentially this disease is a disease of the autoimmune system. The body attacks the cells of the pancreas that actually product the insulin for the body.

Requires Attention Regularly
Another important fact you need to know is that this disease is one that requires attention regularly. In order for those with Type 1 Diabetes to live, they must have injections of insulin or be hooked up to an insulin pump. It also requires testing blood sugar throughout the day to keep track of the sugar levels. Even though you work to balance food and doses of insulin, you always have to prepare for high blood sugar reactions as well as low blood sugar reactions which can both cause extreme physical problems.

Insulin is Not a Cure
Although insulin is a treatment for Type 1 Diabetes, it is not going to cure the problem. It helps to keep the person living but it cannot prevent some of the long term effects that can come along with this disease. Some of the complications and other effects can include nerve damage, kidney problems, complications with pregnancy, stroke, heart attack, and blindness.

Statistics
You may be surprised at some of the statistics surrounding this disease. 3 million plus people in America are dealing with Type 1 Diabetes. There are thousands or children diagnosed with this disease each year in America as well. Since it is so prevalent, it is important to watch out for this problem in your own children.

Warning Signs of Type 1 Diabetes
There are a variety of warning signs that you should be aware of if you have children. These facts can help you to notice changes in your child that may signal they have developed Type 1 Diabetes. These warming signs include lethargy, fatigue, quick weight loss, frequent urination, being thirsty all the time, difficulty breathing, going unconscious, or having a sugary odor to the breath.