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Juvenile Diabetes
Recognizing the Signs and Getting Help
By Teri Brown
"One in 300 people in the general population develops type 1 diabetes, but one in 20 of these people are at risk if a parent, sibling or child has the disease," Feit says. "Research has shown, however, that genes don't tell the whole story and suggests that environmental factors – which are not yet fully known – play a role as well."
The symptoms of type 1 and type 2 diabetes are very similar, though the causes and treatments may differ. Symptoms may occur suddenly and include one or more of the following:
- Extreme thirst
- Frequent urination
- Drowsiness, lethargy
- Sugar in urine
- Sudden vision changes
- Increased appetite
- Sudden weight loss
- Fruity, sweet or wine-like odor on breath
- Heavy, labored breathing
- Stupor, unconsciousness
"If you think your child has diabetes, call a doctor immediately, and [have the child] drink fluids without sugar, if able to swallow, to prevent dehydration," Feit says.
Diagnosing juvenile diabetes takes a simple blood test. It is the treatment that varies in type 1 and type 2 diabetes and from child to child.
"To stay alive, people with type 1 diabetes must take multiple insulin injections daily, or continually infuse insulin through a pump, and test their blood sugar by pricking their fingers six or more times per day," Feit says. "While trying to balance insulin doses with their food intake and daily activities, people with this form of diabetes must always be prepared for serious hypoglycemic [low blood sugar] and hyperglycemic [high blood sugar] reactions, both of which can be life-limiting and life-threatening."