What is type 1 diabetes in children?
Type 1 diabetes, also called juvenile diabetes, is a lifelong condition. Although there is no cure, ongoing research continues to make this disease less dangerous and easier to manage.DefinitionType 1 diabetes occurs when a child’s body produces very little or no insulin, the hormone required for converting sugar into energy. Although it’s not known exactly why, the body’s immune system destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, resulting in a dangerous buildup of sugar in the bloodstream.SymptomsChildren with this form of diabetes may be lethargic and irritable, may complain of blurred vision, abdominal pain and extreme thirst and hunger, or may lose weight, according to the Mayo Clinic. Girls with Type 1 diabetes may also develop yeast infections.CauseWhile no exact cause is know, the Mayo Clinic says a child is more likely to develop Type 1 diabetes under these conditions: – if exposed to the Epstein-Barr virus, coxsackievirus, mumps or cytomegalovirus – if the mother was
