What is Juvenile Diabetes?
Juvenile Diabetes is the previous name given to type 1 diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes. Unlike type 2 diabetes, juvenile diabetes usually appears during childhood or adolescence, hence the name. Both types of diabetes are chronic diseases that affect the way your body regulates glucose. Glucose, or blood sugar, is the fuel that your body’s cells use for energy. Insulin, a hormone produced by the body, is used to transport glucose into the cells. Diabetes occurs when your body can no transport sugar into the cells. In type 1 diabetes, this is because your body doesn’t produce insulin. With type 2 diabetes, your body doesn’t respond as well as it should to insulin and eventually doesn’t produce enough insulin. Both forms can inevitably lead to chronically high blood sugar levels if left unchecked.
Symptoms of Juvenile Diabetes
One of the early signs of diabetes in children is increased urination and thirst. Increased blood sugar causes your body to pull fluid from tissues. This causes your child to be constantly thirsty and increasing the need to use the restroom. Below are a few more signs of juvenile diabetes.
- Changes in vision
- Fatigue
- Fruity smelling breath
- Extreme hunger and unexplained weight loss
- Unusual behavior
