TYPE 1 DIABETES

Type 1 Diabetes: Just the Facts

Once referred to as “juvenile diabetes,” type 1 affects mostly children and young adults. Their bodies make no insulin so they must take insulin shots.

Who Is At Risk?
Doctors aren't quite sure what may cause type 1 diabetes so there is no set of risk factors. Often parents of children with type 1 diabetes aren’t aware of the condition until the child gets sick. However, parents should be aware of the symptoms, so that they can see a doctor if they think their children may have the disease:

Symptoms of Type 1
Children who have type 1 diabetes show the following symptoms:

* Overwhelming thirst that does not go away.
* Frequent and/or uncontrollable urination
* Weight loss or weight gain
* Fatigue
* Nausea or vomiting

Type 1 diabetes can be treated. But, it can also do damage to the diabetic’s body if the symptoms are ignored. Some complications of type 1 diabetes include: heart disease (cardiovascular disease), blindness (retinopathy), nerve damage (neuropathy), and kidney damage (nephropathy). Seek a health care provider's or a doctor's medical care if you or child is experiencing any of the symptoms of diabetes.