Type 1 Diabetes stems from autoimmune destruction of beta cells in the pancreas that secrete insulin. Insulin is the hormone responsible for maximizing the body's sugar resources.
After a meal, the blood's glucose level rises and enters the cells with the help of the insulin. During a fast – for example while a person is asleep – insulin is able to create glucose by disassembling fats or proteins.
Insulin deficiency leads to higher blood sugar levels. Sugar is secreted in the kidney, adsorbs water and causes excess urination. Sometimes small children may begin wetting their beds at night even though they no longer wear diapers. Excess urination causes a heightened sense of thirst. Despite the rise in blood sugar levels, the body's cells do not accept it and so the child complains of fatigue, weakness and loses weight.
In recent years there has been an increase in the number of Type 1 diabetes, mainly among children over 5. The exact reason for this is unknown.
The frequency of the illness in Israel ranges between 8-12 new cases in every 100,000 children.
In the young age group (5-6), the ratio is 1:600.
Above that age, the ratio is 1:400.
Diabetes is seasonal too, with a rise in frequency during spring and fall. And it appears with greater frequency among 5-6 year olds and children in their teenage years.
Insulin is the main treatment for diabetes
Before 1921, when insulin was discovered, Type 1 Diabetes had no cure and any child diagnosed with it had a life expectancy of a year from the diagnosis. Since then, tremendous progress has been made in developing different types of insulin, needles and innovative pens, insulin pumps and sensors for ongoing sugar level measuring.
All over the world (and in Israel too), much effort is being invested in finding a cure for diabetes. Apart from insulin, there is great importance in maintaining a balanced and varied diet like other children. Remember that a diabetic child's menu – just like a non-diabetic child's – is comprised in the main of carbohydrates, but it is important to choose the healthier types of carbohydrates.
It is also very important to participate in regular physical activity, which helps improve blood sugar levels and general health.
Diabetes has immediate and long-term ramifications on the child's health. A drastic drop in blood sugar levels can cause a reduction in consciousness and even endanger the child's life. Imbalanced diabetes in the long run can damage organs such as kidneys, eyes and later the heart and the bigger blood vessels in the arms and legs.
To prevent these and other complications, it is crucial your child's sugar levels are well-balanced.
Today it is customary to use the HBA1c benchmark, which shows average blood sugar levels over the last 2-3 months as a balancing measure.
The recommended HBA1c level is under 7%. Due to the complexity of diabetes, it is treated in multi-disciplinary clinics with a doctor, nurse, dietician, social worker, psychologist and other professionals on call if needed.
Although most cases of juvenile diabetes are Type 1, there has been an increase in recent years of Type 2, particularly in overweight children. In these cases, preventing obesity is critical in halting the development of the disease.
Similarly, a small portion of juvenile diabetes cases stem from genetic disorders in which the gene is known and isolated. In these cases there is usually a first or second degree family member who also started suffering at a relatively early age. Some of these cases can be treated with drugs rather than insulin injections.
Some rarer cases of diabetes may appear during the breastfeeding period, up to 6 months. They too are caused by genetic damage. The disease is often accompanied by other symptoms and does not behave like Type 1 Diabetes.
Despite the complexity of treating Type 1 Diabetes, children's life expectancy has risen dramatically and diabetic children can lead almost perfectly normal lives and enjoy their childhood just like any non-diabetic child. It has also been proven that children under regular, ongoing supervision in a diabetes clinic are more balanced.