Diabetes manifesting in the younger generation is referred to as ‘juvenile diabetes’. This is caused by the inability of the body to produce insulin. The pancreas is responsible for generating the hormone insulin, which is the hormone that burns the food we consume and breaks it down into energy. It is when the body does not know to produce sufficient insulin or if it simply cannot the insulin already present, that diabetes surfaces.

How does juvenile diabetes manifest?

Diabetes in youngsters usually appears in the form of Type 1 Diabetes. More than 90 percent of children under the age of 16 suffer from this type of diabetes. Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune disorder, where the body’s cells themselves start attacking the other helpful cells, treating them like enemies. This results in the destruction of tissues and vital organs, over a period of time.

As far as juvenile diabetes is concerned, the very cells that generate insulin in the pancreas are targeted and systematically destroyed.

How often does one get to see this type of disorder?

There is nothing like a clear-cut proportion of the young population suffering from diabetes. This rate differs from country to country and sometimes among different ethnic groups as well.

* The amount recorded in Scotland is about 25 per one hundred thousand children.

* In England and Wales, the number is 17 annually.

* In Finland, a survey revealed a number of 43 per hundred thousand children, whereas Japan recorded a low number of 3.

There has been as much as three times the number of cases of childhood diabetes in the last 3 decades. While this tendency was there in the United States, Europe is now recording cases of juvenile diabetes too. This emergence could probably be attributed to obesity and bad eating habits among children and teenagers. Of course, Type 1 Diabetes is not really the result of obesity, so there remains to be a paradox in this respect.

What triggers this disorder during childhood?

The actual trigger for juvenile diabetes is not yet known. But research suggests that it might be due to the general environment and genetic make-up as well. It is often seen that children who fall victims to diabetes do not have a family history of the disorder.

How is this treated?

Fast-acting insulin is mostly given during daytime and the slow-acting variety in the night. Insulin pumps are also used nowadays.

What can I do as a parent?

* If your child suffers from diabetes, you should first understand about the disorder and work in sync with the doctor to help your child.

* Also learn to administer insulin injections and monitor blood glucose levels regularly.

* Know about diabetic acidosis and always keep glucose with you.

* Inform his school about his condition.

* Give the child a healthy balanced diet and keep a keen eye on his weight.

* Engage him in physical activity, so that he keeps fit in spite his disorder.

Diabetes in children, though more and more common today, can be handled effectively if we tackle it in time.

Gary Sanders is an expert on diabetes and a diabetes sufferer. He has dedicated the last decade of his life to mastering every aspect of diabetes including nutrition, diabetes in children, symptoms of diabetes, diagnosis, and prevention. He has created an award winning guide that is available at http://www.DiabetesSymptomsGuide.com

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The normal glucose level in the blood is from 65 to 120 milligrams per deciliter or (mg/dL). Under normal circumstances this balance is maintained in spite of a surge of sugar following eating a meal or snack or a few hours without sugar when one doesn’t eat, for example, at night while sleeping. However, when insulin is not produced or utilized normally, the balance is disrupted and glucose levels either rise too high or fall too low. There are three types of diabetes mellitus: Type 1, Type 2 and gestational diabetes.

The form of diabetes that is common to children is Type 1 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes usually affects adults over forty years of age although it can develop in children and this is now happening more often than in the past. Gestational diabetes is restricted to pregnant women. Type 1 diabetes is classified as an auto-immune disease. Because the immune system attacks the insulin producing cells of the pancreas, the body has less insulin available than is required. Type 1 may be genetic or it can be the result of a virus. Scientists are not sure about this. Both boys and girls are equally susceptible to Type 1 diabetes.

Scientists also do not understand why Type 2 diabetes is suddenly starting to affect children. However, they believe that this may be due to overweight and inactivity. Symptoms of diabetes in children include excessive thirst and urination, weight loss or failure to gain weight, fatigue and large appetite. Since treatment can be a lifetime procedure, it is important that parents and children work together to manage the diabetes. The child must learn the importance of checking and maintaining proper blood sugar levels. If insulin injections are required, the child must learn how to do this and must know the schedule for the injections.

Maintaining a proper diet is extremely important and this may be difficult with children. Parents can control what the child eats at home but away from home and in school is a different matter. Most young children are fond of sugar snacks such as candy and these need to be avoided. However, diabetic children can have sugarless candy. Diabetic children also need to eat on a regular schedule of meals interspersed with healthy snacks. In addition, they must follow a regular exercise program. Teachers and school administrators should always be advised if a child is diabetic and they need to be informed of medication schedules and diet.

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Diabetes in children, particularly really young children, can be difficult to diagnose. Even so, every year over twelve thousand children in the country are diagnosed with type one diabetes. Taking care of a child can be so time consuming and overwhelming in even the best of cases that the signs can be easy to miss, even if the adult is fully aware of the symptoms.

So what, exactly, are the symptoms of children with diabetes?

1) The need to urinate a lot – If you notice your child having to go to the bathroom a lot more than normal, or if he starts wetting his bed all of a sudden, be aware that this is one of the symptoms that many children exhibit when they develop diabetes. However, you should not be too concerned if this is the only symptom of diabetes that your child exhibits. There can be other reasons for increased urination such as urinary tract infection, the inability of the child to completely empty his or her bladder, or even Pollakiuria – known informally as Daytime Urinary Frequency Syndrome. Nevertheless, if your child is having to urinate a lot more than normal, you should take him in to see his pediatrician for a check up.

2) A dramatic loss in weight – This is one of the more extreme symptoms of diabetes in children because children do not normally lose weight. They gain weight. Other causes of dramatic weight losses in children are side effects of drugs and cancer. But, a child losing a drastic amount of weight in a short period of time is a dangerous sign, regardless of whether diabetes is involved, or not, and he should be taken to see the doctor without delay.

3) The need to continually drink water or other liquids – In children with diabetes, fluids are pulled from the tissues of the body. This is because as sugar builds up in the bloodstream, it eventually reaches the point where the body has to get rid of the excess glucose. It does this by eliminating the excess sugar via the urine. The body, however, cannot create urine without water. If the blood does not contain enough water, the body has no other choice than to extract water from the surrounding tissues. This, in turn, causes the body to become dehydrated which results in the thirst mechanism kicking in.

4) Extreme hunger – a child with diabetes can show exhibit hunger urges, eat constantly, and still never gain weight. This is because his body is unable to utilize the food that he eats. In effect, the food just flows through his body.

It is extremely unlikely that your child will recognize diabetes symptoms in himself. He has no idea of the symptoms and will generally look to you, as the adult, to care for him.

Fortunately, for you, however, when the symptoms of childhood diabetes manifest, they make their appearance rapidly and over a short period of time. The changes are not subtle. They are dramatic and should be hard to miss.

Alice Saracho writes about nutrition and news related to diabetes such as diabetic diet guidelines and type two diabetes diet. Please visit her website for more articles.

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It takes time to learn as much as one can about diabetes in children but as one gains knowledge, so will the self-confidence rise. Knowing that the child can still flourish will be quite a boost. Since there is so much to learn, where does one start? This really depends on the type of diabetes in children.

If the diabetes in children is type 1, then concentrate on finding ways and means to deal with this. Each year, over 13,000 children are diagnosed with this condition so you are not alone. The pancreas stop or produce so little insulin that no hormone is able to move the glucose to the tissues and muscles of the body where it is needed. Instead it accumulates in the blood.

The symptoms of diabetes appear quickly, sometimes in a few weeks. In babies and young children, the first sign may be a yeast infection. This results in a diaper rash that is severe. When the child becomes irritable and gets easily tired, then this is a sign diabetes may be the cause if it is accompanied by the following:

* Excessive thirst
* Frequent urination
* Loss of weight that cannot be explained
* Excessive hunger

When there is a suspicion of diabetes in children, the doctor will probably first try to check if the blood glucose is high by giving a random blood glucose test. This means that the test can be given any time of the day. And the child does not have to fast. What will confirm the diagnosis is if the result is over 200 milligrams per deciliter.

In some cases, the doctor may suggest a fasting blood glucose test. In this case the child will have to fast by not drinking or eating for at least eight hours. If the result of this test is under 100 mg/dL, then the child does not have diabetes. Between 100 and 125 is prediabetes and over 126 in two separate tests will confirm a diabetes diagnosis.

The doctor may also order a test to check the ketone level in the urine and blood as this is toxic. The body produces the ketones when there is not enough glucose and is forced to break down the stored fat. This can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis which can threaten life. Treatment can easily reverse this.

When the diabetes in children is diagnosed, it is good to have a team who will help with the management care plan. All with type 1 diabetes will rely on insulin to live. This may be done through insulin pen, a pump or a syringe. The glucose monitoring one does at home will have the following goals in mind:

For toddlers and five years and younger, the blood glucose goal before meals is 100 to 180 mg/dL while the goal for bedtime and overnight is 110 to 200 mg/dL. For the six to twelve years old the goal before meals is 90-180 mg/dL and for the bedtime and overnight, it is 100-150 mg/dL. For the thirteen to nineteen years old, the goal before meals is 90-130 mg/dL and for bedtime and overnight, it is 90-150 mg/dL.

The doctor will probably give an A1C test every three months. Also talk to the school officials as what can be done to help the child. The law is on the child’s side in this case. Since this is getting too long, the next article will deal with diabetes in children who have the type 2 kind.

Please visit these sites for more diabetes help:

Diabetes in Children

Diabetes Facts

Brief Biography: Dr. Guzman worked for the Atlantic Health Corporation and was consultant to St. Joseph’s Hospital, Sussex Mental Health Clinic, and St. Stephen Mental Health Clinic for many years. He was Director of Forensic Psychiatry at Centracare for ten years and published numerous articles in the Journal of the American College of Forensic Psychiatry and other medical magazines.

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Type 1 diabetes is related to the inability of the pancreas to produce insulin which breaks down the glucose in the blood. This usually occurs when the body’s defense mechanism attacks and kills the insulin producing cells. Insulin then needs to be administered manually via an injection on a regular basis. Type 2 diabetes is a resistance to the insulin that is produced. In this case the insulin is produced normally but the body is resistant to it and it doesn’t work effectively. It can usually be treated by a good diet, exercise and insulin supplements if required.

It has long been known that obesity, lack of exercise and poor diet play a big part in the onset of type 2 diabetes. Many researchers now believed that the increased levels of obesity in children are leading to the sudden appearance of type 2 diabetes. The causes of type 1 diabetes in children are not known, evidence suggests that there is a link between faulty genes and environmental factors. It is known however that diabetes is not hereditary and is not passed from one generation to the next.

Children who have diabetes tend to actually live longer than people who get diabetes in later life. It is speculated that this is because they get into a routine of controlling their diabetes with regular injections and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Parents of children with diabetes should look out for the signs of low glucose levels and always have access to glucose or sweets. Additional regular checkups for kidney and eye problems should be scheduled as these are the 2 areas most affected by diabetes.

The symptoms of diabetes in children are very similar to those of adults. Constant thirst, and frequent urination obviously these 2 may be linked. Also be on the lookout for tiredness and a loss of weight. Additionally children often complain of regular stomach aches and headaches. In some cases a child may suffer from diabetic acidosis which has all the symptoms above but may also include unconsciousness. In cases like this immediate hospitalization is required.

There are over 20 million people who have diabetes and about 30% of them are not aware of their diabetes? Learn more about children and diabetes and other related diabetes information at Online-Diabetes-Information.com

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Symptoms of diabetes in children are described here with important information for your better observation. Your children will visit bathroom more frequently. It is the most common symptoms of diabetes. It happens for the high percentage of glucose in the blood. The kidneys cannot filter properly due to lack of insulin. For this reason, your bladder full and you need to urinate whole day long. Babies can soak their diapers and bed clothes in less than half an hour, lose weight, develop flu-like symptoms, have yeast infections, and the odd smell to their breath that develops in later stages of untreated high blood sugar, but may still not be checked for diabetes with a simple blood or urine test.

Another symptom is excessive thirst. It happens because; your baby will get dehydrated if your baby has lack of insulin. Your baby will need to urinate more and for this reason, you feel the thrust. Your children will feel weakness and fatigue. It is another symptom of diabetes in children. Glucose in our blood needs to transform with the help of insulin. Otherwise, it cannot be utilized by our body cells. As a result, you feel weak and tired if you get diabetes. Extreme high rate of glucose in your blood can damage the nerve system. You will feel numbness in your body. This symptom is also called neuropathy. Some other symptoms of diabetes in children are blurred vision, skin gets dry, infections or cuts need more time to heal etc.

You must take proper steps if you find any of the symptoms in your children. Reaching out for support and information is as important a year after your child is diagnosed as it is in the weeks following the diagnosis. It is strongly recommended to contact with specialists for better output.

Controlling blood sugar levels is an art. If you want to be an expert in it, you should know the full details in Diabetic Foods to Eat AND Diabetes Foods to Avoid.

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It is important for one person to know and understand the symptoms of diabetes in children for both types. With this knowledge, one will be able to diagnose up front if the child is a candidate for this disease.

For type 1 diabetes in children, the patients are usually not overweight or obese. What is often noticed here is weight loss and that the child is displaying frequent urination and is always thirsty. For type 2 diabetes, patients are usually obese. In the urine samples of a type 2 patient, one will observe that there is sugar in there. There is also a strong diabetes history in the family and this is a suggestion that this type of diabetes is hereditary. Accordingly, about 45% of children with type 2 diabetes have parents who are also diabetic. The most common physical symptom is the presence of dark patches in the skin, usually between the fingers and at the back of the neck.

According to scientists, the changes in hormones during puberty increase the possibility of kids resisting to insulin and this is a major cause of diabetes type 2. There is also a strong genetic correlation and this is often blown up by bad diet and social conditions. It is a fact that diabetes type 2 for children and adolescents is considered very complex, unlike type 2 diabetes for adults in which the recommended treatment is change in diet.

The top three treatments for type 2 diabetes in children are prevention of complications; bringing blood sugar levels or glucose levels close to what is acceptable or normal; and glycosylate hemoglobin balance. As of this time, there is very little known cure for type 2 diabetes in children. Most of the treatments applied are based on adult diabetes type 2.

These are just some facts on Type 2 Diabetes Children you should be aware of. If you or your loved ones are diagnosed with diabetes, then you should also consider Diabetes Care tips online which provides lots of diabetes information and ideas to make living with diabetes much easier.

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But it’s what you don’t see that is so bad.

The disease elevates the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood. As blood sugars remain high, over time, complications such as blindness, kidney failure, amputations, heart disease, and severe nerve damage can occur.

The quality of your child’s life may depend on being able to recognize the symptoms of diabetes in children.

Diabetes in children has reached almost epidemic proportions. The incidence of this chronic and sometimes deadly disease is predicted to continue to rise.

Unfortunately for parents, sometimes it can be hard to identify the symptoms of diabetes in children. Read the list below and you’ll understand why often symptoms of diabetes aren’t recognized early.

When they are, doctors can help immediately with treatment and help you to maintain and control the diabetes.

Symptoms of diabetes in children and adults are:

• Frequent thirst – You may just be thinking your child drinks a lot.

• Frequent infections – Many consider this just a part of childhood.

• Blurred Vision – Your child may not tell you as the blurred vision can come and go. It’s not always constant.

• Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal – It’s easy to think the injury was just a “bad one” and it’s taking longer to heal.

• Tingling/numbness in hands or feet – Again you child may not notice or tell you about it as it’s not usually constant.

• Frequent urination – Many just think it comes from drinking more.

• Extreme hunger – Often parents think their child is going through a “growth spurt” and just requires more food.

• Unusual weight loss – This symptom does normally make parents concerned. If the child has bee overweight, parents sometimes think …..Great, the weight is finally coming off.

• Irritability – Can often be labeled as parent/child confrontations. Also many parents of teens just think it’s a normal part of the teenage years.

You won’t see all of this at once. You will notice one of them, then a month or two latter something else…

What To Do If You See Symptoms Of Diabetes In Children

Get your child tested for diabetes IMMEDIATELY. Don’t wait. The test is simple and painless. The longer you wait the more difficult the disease can be to control.

These symptoms may not even be noticed until the disease in is full force. It’s important to learn to recognize these symptoms. With early detection children with type 2 diabetes can learn to control the disease with diet and exercise.

Left untreated the symptoms of diabetes in children results in more defined and difficult treatment. Medications and insulin must often be used to control diabetes. Diabetes is a disease that should not be taken lightly.

There are two types of diabetes, type 1 and type 2.

Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body no longer produces insulin.

Type 2, the most common type of diabetes occurs when the body develops a resistance to insulin, or does not produce enough insulin. Type 2 diabetes, once labeled adult onset diabetes, has become more and more prevalent in children.

Research has documented two primary factors contributing to the rise in type 2 diabetes in children. The factors are: 1) children today are more inactive, and 2) unhealthy diets in children. Today’s lifestyle of fast-food meals, TV, computers, and hand-held games has put many at risk of developing symptoms of diabetes in children.

Diabetes in children is a serious threat. Take control of your child’s future today. Make sure they have a healthy diet including fresh fruits and vegetables. Keep your children active. They won’t be deprived if they don’t spend hours a day watching TV or playing computerized games. You could be saving their life.

You may get a few weird looks and complaints, but what’s that compared to the health of your child?

Are you are concerned about the possibility of a juvenile diabetes diagnosis or are you wondering about type 2 diabetes symptoms click on over to Mike Herman’s site http://www.4HealthConcerns.com/Diabetes

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