Learning that your child has type 1 diabetes can be stressful. But, the more you know about type 1 diabetes the better you can help your child manage his or her diabetes and prevent complications.
Type 1 Diabetes in Children and TeensLearning that your child has type 1 diabetes can be stressful. But, the more you know about type 1 diabetes the better you can help your child manage his or her diabetes and prevent complications.Diabetes is when your child's body can't process a sugar called glucose normally. There are three types of diabetes: type 1, type 2 and gestational.The most common form of type 1 diabetes is considered an autoimmune disorder. This means your body's immune system destroys, or tries to destroy, the cells in your pancreas that make insulin. It used to be called juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes. It's most often diagnosed in children and young adults, but it can be diagnosed at any age.It's a chronic condition that doesn't go away. But your child can learn to manage it and live a normal life.To understand type 1 diabetes, it helps to learn how the body processes glucose. When your child eats, the food gets broken down into glucose and other nutrients and enters the bloodstream. As the amount of sugar in the blood increases, clusters of special cells in the pancreas called beta-cells make insulin.Insulin is a hormone that allows the body's cells and tissues to use glucose, which they need for energy and to function normally.With type 1 diabetes, your child's immune system attacks the beta-cells. Without beta-cells, your child's body doesn't have enough insulin. Without insulin, glucose can't enter the body's cells and builds up in your child's blood, starving the cells.Scientists don't know what exactly causes the immune system to attack beta-cells. But genes seem to play a role, and other factors may act as a trigger.SymptomsIf your child has type 1 diabetes, he or she may have symptoms such as:Frequent urinationThirstHungerWeight lossFatigue, andBlurry visionIf your child has any of these symptoms, talk with your child's health care provider. He or she can check your child's blood glucose and A-1-C level.Your child's blood will be drawn after he or she has gone without food for a certain period of time. A blood glucose test shows the amount of glucose in your child's blood at the time of the test.A normal blood glucose level is between 70 and 99 milligrams per deciliter. If your child's fasting blood glucose test is 126 milligrams per deciliter or higher on two tests, he or she has diabetes.An A-1-C test shows your child's average blood glucose levels over several months. A normal A-1-C level is less than 5.7 percent. If your child's test results are high, he or she may have diabetes.If needed, additional blood tests can help show whether your child has type 1 or type 2 diabetes. If your child has type 1 diabetes, you'll need to help him or her learn how to manage it.Poorly managed type 1 diabetes can cause serious health issues such as:Kidney failureNerve damageBlindnessAmputationComa, which can lead to deathHigh blood pressureHeart attack and strokeSkin changes , andTooth decayTreatmentHelping your child learn how to manage his or her diabetes can help prevent these complications. When a child has type 1 diabetes, he or she needs to replace the insulin the pancreas no longer makes.A team of health care providers will help you and your child learn how to give insulin, how and when to check blood sugar, and how to time and adjust insulin. They will also teach your child how to change his or her diet and exercise routine.Regular visits to your child's health care provider and diabetes care team are essential. They'll help your child manage his or her diabetes and be monitored for signs of complications or other health problems.Your child may also need to see an eye doctor, dentist, and foot doctor.You'll need to let your child's school know that he or she has type 1 diabetes. Work with the school to create a care plan. Make sure they have all the necessary equipment and your child's insulin.And it's important for your child to wear a medical identification bracelet stating that he or she has type 1 diabetes. This can be very helpful in case of a medical emergency.Things to RememberType 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the cells that make insulin are destroyed by the immune system.Diagnosis of type 1 diabetes can occur at any age.Your child will need to take insulin to treat his or her type 1 diabetes.What We Have LearnedWith treatment, type 1 diabetes eventually goes away. True or false? The answer is false. Type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition that doesn't go away, but you can learn to manage it and avoid complications.Frequent thirst, hunger, and weight loss are common symptoms of type 1 diabetes. True or false? The answer is true. Other symptoms include fatigue, frequent urination, and blurry vision.
Author: Wheeler, Brooke
Online Medical Reviewer: Hurd, Robert E., MD
Online Medical Reviewer: Sather, Rita, RN
Date Last Reviewed: 05/01/2020
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