Juvenile Diabetes (Type 1 diabetes) currently affects over 3 million people in the United States alone.   This life threatening disease can manifest very rapidly with symptoms showing within days.   It occurs when the body’s immune system attacks the insulin producing cells of pancreas.  Insulin is a hormone that helps the body to process sugar in the foods we eat. Without it, the sugar accumulates in the blood and will eventually begin to damage vital organs in the body. If left untreated, high levels of sugar in the blood can lead to a coma and even death.

Here are some tips you should be aware of when dealing with Juvenile Diabetes.

• As your child’s blood sugar level rises too high the symptoms of juvenile diabetes begin. They might include increased thirst and urination, blurred vision, weight loss, fatigue, flu like symptoms, and confusion.  Do not mistake symptoms you observe with those of other ailments. It can be hard to identify juvenile diabetes symptoms, as they may not appear all at once.  The most common indicators are excessive thirst and frequent urination but there are others that may occur which parents often overlook because of lack of information.
• Look for severe changes in your child’s behavior such as increased aggression or mood swings.  This is due to the increased levels of sugar in their blood.
• Due to the lack of insulin the body will start using fat that is stored in the organs in order to get energy.  You will notice that your child may loose weight even though they are eating very well.  Hunger may persist even though they’ve been eating large amounts of food.
• Consult your child’s pediatrician who should then do a few simple tests to determine the levels of sugar in your child’s blood to confirm the diagnosis.