Juvenile diabetes, also known as type 1 diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, can develop at any time of life but is most frequently diagnosed in children and teens. Type 2 diabetes, also referred as insulin-resistant diabetes, is generally not seen until later in life. There is no cure for juvenile diabetes, but there have been many advancement made over the years in the effective management of the disease. To understand why and how this type of diabetes must be managed, it is important to know why the disease occurs in the first place.

No one knows why some people have juvenile diabetes. It may have something to do with heredity, or a viral infection, but a definitive cause has not yet been found. However, doctors do know what happens in the case of juvenile diabetes, and this has led to many positive advances in the effective management of the disease. Diagnosis and treatment of this illness can be started early on to ensure no complications arise. With proper care, most people who suffer with this diabetes can go on to live long, healthy lives despite their illness.

Why Juvenile Diabetes Happens:

To understand what happens in the case of juvenile diabetes, it is important to understand the role of glucose in the body. Sugar that enters the body through the food we eat travels through the bloodstream. Insulin, which is produced by cells in the pancreas, help that sugar to leave the bloodstream and be absorbed by cells in the body that converts the sugar to energy. In the case of juvenile diabetes, the body’s own immune system will attack these cells in the pancreas, leaving them unable to produce the necessary insulin. This results in sugar building in the bloodstream instead of getting to the body cells that need it.

This is why juvenile diabetes is also referred to as insulin-dependent diabetes. As the body cannot produce the necessary insulin on its own, it has to be introduced into the body by other means. For most people with juvenile diabetes, it means either daily insulin injections or an insulin pump that can provide the required substance. It also means regular testing of the blood to confirm that the sugar levels are within the normal range. Nutritious diet choices and daily exercise are also a part of the management plan for diabetes. By affixing to this program, most people with juvenile diabetes can live healthy, normal lives.

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