Type 1 Diabetes which is also known as juvenile diabetes, affects about 5-10% of all those who are diagnosed with diabetes mellitus every year. The main cause of this type of diabetes is due to a malfunction in the ability to produce insulin, a hormone that is used to help control how glucose is used within the body. This malfunction can cause several symptoms once the glucose levels in the blood begin to rise from non-dispersal of the required insulin into the body to handle the glucose levels.
Juvenile diabetes is often found in young children as a result of several different factors. The children that end up with this defect of the pancreas will usually exhibit serious and extreme symptoms. These symptoms can be any of the following and in any combination as indicators of Type 1 Diabetes: Frequent urination, increased thirst, increased hunger, rapid weight loss and mental fatigue. These symptoms could develop into much worse complications such as coma and death if not treated properly.
One of the most frightening experiences for those who have Type 1 Diabetes is the fact that a large percentage of them find out by learning they have Diabetic Ketoacidosis, which requires emmediate hospitalization. Those who are unable to get treatment could pass out into a coma and eventually die if not treated in time.
Treatments for this disorder will often deal with prescribed insulin injections, inhaled insulin sprays (still in experimental phases) or oral treatments with medicines that mimic the biological process of insulin. Of course the main course of treatment is through patient education of the disorder. They must make changes in their lifestyle to truly reduce their chances of damaging organs such as the eyes with glucose absorption. Kidney disease is also possible with failure of the kidneys resulting in the need for dialysis treatments for a lifetime unless a donor kidney is found.
