What Every Parent Needs To Know About Juvenile Diabetes
One thing that every parent should be on the lookout for is Juvenile Diabetes. There are many misconceptions about Juvenile (or Type 1) Diabetes, which is why it is vital that parents educate themselves about what to look for in their child. Here are some things you should know.
1. Type 1 Diabetes Is Different Than Type 2 Diabetes
One misconception is that type 1 and type 2 diabetes are the same thing. There are very different. First, type 1 is an autoimmune disorder. It is not caused by lifestyle. Instead, for some reason the body's immune system believes that the pancreas is dangerous and "non-self" so it creates antibodies that fight it until the pancreas is non-functional. Conversely, Type 2 Diabetes is from excessive use of the pancreas. When a person is overweight, or has put too much strain on their pancreas, then the pancreas begins to falter. In many cases type 2 can be reversed with lifestyle changes and may not need medication. There is nothing you can do for type 1 diabetes at this point by manage it with medication. There is no way to reverse the effects of the body's own immune system attacking the pancreas.
2. Type 1 Diabetes May Look Like Flu Symptoms
Type 1 Diabetes usually goes undiagnosed for far too long. This is because many parents do not know what they are looking for in the illness. They might just dismiss the symptoms as being the flu, when really it is a life threatening disease. In fact, some children have even died because the family didn't catch the illness soon enough.
Some of the things you should be looking for are a change in diet. They might lose weight even though they are eating the same amount of food. They probably have an excessive need to drink and they are using the bathroom often. A child may also suffer from irritability as well as stomach and headaches.
3. You Should Consult Your Pediatrician If You Suspect It
The best thing to do if you suspect Type 1 Diabetes is to consult your pediatrician. They can test the urine or blood to determine if there is a chance your child has this disorder. If they detect it they can start treatment right away and so the child avoids any long-term and dangerous side effects.
By understanding these things you can protect your child from the negative effect of Type 1 Diabetes.