Diabetes comes in several forms and they include type 1 diabetes (often referred to as juvenile onset diabetes), type 2 diabetes, juvenile diabetes type 1 mellitus, gestational diabetes, and also pre-diabetes.  It can be caused by too little insulin, resistance to insulin, or even both.  Insulin is a body’s natural hormone produced by the pancreas, and its function is to control blood sugar.  People who have diabetes need to study which diet works best and which foods can increase their blood sugar, and which foods will help them control their symptoms. Type 1 juvenile diabetes can be one of the msot difficult to deal with emotionally . . . not so much as for children but for parents.

Several processes occur when food is digested.  Glucose (sugar) enters the bloodstream and this is  a source of fuel for the body.  Your pancreas creates insulin so that the sugar can be moved to liver cells, muscles, fat and your bloodstream.  Blood sugar levels in type 1 diabetes must be  brought under control.In juvenile type 1 diabetes has high blood sugar because their pancreas is malfunctioning and can’t make enough insulin, or the cells which need insulin to process sugars aren’t responding as they should, or both of those things.

Type 1 juvenile diabetes affects children and they learn to control this at a very young age.  They often learn to cope remarkably well but counseling may prove useful at the onset.  Though the name can be misleading, some patients are diagnosed with juvenile onset type 1 diabetes when they are over 20 – making this type diabetes one of the most unpredictabe in it’s choice of patient.  In type ones, there is very little insulin, or none at all.  Daily injections or a pump are needed to control symptoms and maintain health.  There is no cure but progress is being made all the time.  A child or adult’s life expectancy is normal, if diabetes of all types is kept under control.  The cause of type 1 diabetes is unknown at this time, but autoimmune problems, viruses and genetics may play a part.

Upon your first visit to the doctor your health care provider may issue a series of blood tests to determine if you have diabetes type one if you are among the group of tpye 2 diabetics or if you have diabetes type 3. If you are diagnosed with type one diabetes, your doctor will advise you to check your blood sugar levels at home, perhaps several times a day.  The closer watch you can keep on it, the quicker you can remedy a potentially serious situation.  Blood glucose monitors use a single drop of blood to analyze your glucose levels.  Monitoring your levels at home lets you know right away how well your regimen of medication, exercise and diet are working.   There are several types of monitors and some do not need a finger prick.

Levels of blood sugar which are acceptable may be based on your age, so juvenile diabetes, or type i diabetes, may have a range of acceptable levels.  Check with your doctor about what’s right for your child or loved one.  Looking at type 1 diabetes symptoms — they can be controlled by diet in a lot of cases.  You will need to learn how much protein, fat and carbs, and in what proportions, should be in your diet.  Don’t forget to fully learn about treatment and causes of diabetes and keep watch on your mental health.  If you start to feel sad or deprived then  talk to your doctor.  Watch your son or daughter carefully because sometimes kids cannot express themselves fully. This is an unfortunate side effect of diabetes type 1 in children however it can be turned into a postive if you make exploring new foods an adventure.

For your diet, a registered dietitian can really help and offer a lot of, perhaps surprising, tips on what you should eat for your diabetic health.  When you’re a type 1 diabetic, regular meals are crucial to stabilizing your blood sugar levels and prolonging life expectancy of type 1 diabetics.  It should remain on an even keel and not get too high, or too low.

A type 1 diabetic cannot make their own insulin.  Because insulin is not provided in pill form, diabetics with type one need injections or an insulin pump.  Another form of insulin is the inhaled form.  Ask your doctor about the effects and use of and any detriments to using each type.  Regular exercise is vital for people with all kinds of diabetes.  It will help with weight loss, blood sugar control, and high blood pressure.  If you exercise, you’ll be less likely to have a stroke or heart attack.  Type 1, type 2 and type 3 diabetics should speak with their doctors before taking on any new exercise program.

Check on your footwear.  Feet can be a casualty of being a diabetic but with proper care, they will take you through your life perfectly fine!  Exercise at the same time daily, and monitor your blood sugar levels before and afterwards.  Always carry some food that has a fast-acting carb in it (ask your dietitian) in case you need it when exercising.  When you are out and about, always take a cell phone and Diabetic ID card with you.  If you experience spikes in blood sugar levels during exercise, you may have to modify your program as you have type 1 diabetes your ongoing good health effects your current and future lifestyle.