
Often referred to as juvenile diabetes because it typically manifests before the age of 14, this condition currently has no known cure. However, children and adults that are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes can live long, happy, and healthy lives with the proper diet and treatment.
Full Answer
Who takes care of young children with diabetes?
For the most part, parents provide the care for preschoolers and young school-aged children, but others, such as child care providers and school nurses may also be involved in the care. Sharing care of young children with diabetes is often difficult for parents, who may fear that others will not know what to do ( 28 ).
Does the American Diabetes Association have recommendations for children and adolescents?
During recent years, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) has published detailed guidelines and recommendations for the management of diabetes in the form of technical reviews, position statements, and consensus statements. Recommendations regarding children and adolescents have generally been included as only a minor portion of these documents.
How many children with Type 1 diabetes less than 6 years old?
Maahs DM, Hermann JM, DuBose SN, et al. Contrasting the clinical care and outcomes of 2,622 children with type 1 diabetes less than 6 years of age in the United States T1D Exchange and German/Austrian DPV registries. Diabetologia 2014;57:1578–85.
Can a child have a healthy and fulfilling life with diabetes?
Families discover that a child can have a healthy and fulfilling life with diabetes. Note: Unless otherwise specified, the term “child” or “children” is used for individuals 0 to 18 years of age, and the term “adolescent” for those 13 to 18 years of age. 3. Introduction

Does type 1 diabetes affect children or adults?
Type 1 diabetes usually develops in children or young adults, but people of any age can get it.
What happens when child is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes?
Diabetes increases your child's risk of developing conditions such as narrowed blood vessels, high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke later in life. Nerve damage. Excess sugar can injure the walls of the tiny blood vessels that nourish your child's nerves. This can cause tingling, numbness, burning or pain.
Can a child with type 1 diabetes live a normal life?
"Kids with type-1 diabetes should be allowed to live a normal life," says Chiang. That includes parties, sleepovers, trick or treating, school trips, and sports, she says. Special attention should be given to days when your child is sick, as blood sugar levels may change more dramatically.
What is the management for a child with Type I diabetes mellitus?
Children with type 1 diabetes must have daily injections of insulin to keep the blood glucose level within normal ranges. Without insulin, blood glucose levels continue to rise and death will occur.
Can an adult get type 1 diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes was once called insulin-dependent or juvenile diabetes. It usually develops in children, teens, and young adults, but it can happen at any age. Type 1 diabetes is less common than type 2—about 5-10% of people with diabetes have type 1.
How is type 1 diabetes permanently treated?
Right now, there's no cure for diabetes, so people with type 1 diabetes will need treatment for the rest of their lives....Diabetes Treatment Basicstake insulin as prescribed.eat a healthy, balanced diet with accurate carbohydrate counts.check blood sugar levels as prescribed.get regular physical activity.
How long do type 1 diabetics live without treatment?
The investigators found that men with type 1 diabetes had an average life expectancy of about 66 years, compared with 77 years among men without it. Women with type 1 diabetes had an average life expectancy of about 68 years, compared with 81 years for those without the disease, the study found.
How does type 1 diabetes affect a child's growth and development?
Though children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) are often tall at the time of diagnosis, they may experience growth retardation, pubertal delay or both, which may be due to poor glycemic control, associated diseases or chronic complications.
How is pediatric diabetes treated?
Although there is no cure for diabetes, children with this disease can lead normal lives if it's kept under control. Managing the disease focuses on blood sugar monitoring, treatment such as insulin therapy, given as multiple injections per day or through an insulin pump, and maintaining a healthy diet.
What is type 1 or type 2 diabetes?
In Type 1 diabetes, your pancreas doesn't make any insulin. In Type 2, your pancreas doesn't make enough insulin, and the insulin it is making doesn't always work as it should. Both types are forms of diabetes mellitus, meaning they lead to hyperglycemia (high blood sugar).
Can children get type 2 diabetes?
Many children develop type 2 diabetes in their early teens, but it may occur at any age. Adolescent girls are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than are adolescent boys. Maternal gestational diabetes.
Diagnosis
- There are several blood tests for type 1 diabetes in children. These tests are used to diagnose diabetes and to monitor diabetes management: 1. Random blood sugar test.This is the primary screening test for type 1 diabetes. A blood sample is taken at a random time. A blood sugar level of 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), or 11.1 mi…
Clinical Trials
- Explore Mayo Clinic studiestesting new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition.
Lifestyle and Home Remedies
- Following a diabetes treatment plan requires 24-hour care and significant lifestyle changes. Careful management of type 1 diabetes helps reduce your child's risk of serious complications. As your child gets older: 1. Encourage him or her to take an increasingly active role in diabetes management 2. Stress the importance of lifelong diabetes care 3. Teach your child how to test his or her blood sugar and inject insulin 4. Help your child make wi…
Coping and Support
- If managing your child's diabetes seems overwhelming, take it one day at a time. Some days you'll manage your child's blood sugar ideally and on other days, it may seem as if nothing works well. No one can do it perfectly. But your efforts are worthwhile. Don't forget that you're not alone and that your diabetes treatment team can help.
Preparing For Your Appointment
- Your child's primary care provider will probably make the initial diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. Hospitalization may be needed to stabilize your child's blood sugar levels. Your child's long-term diabetes care will likely be handled by a pediatric endocrinologist. Your child's health care team also generally includes a certified diabetes care and education specialist, a registered dietitian, and a social worker. Here's some information to help you get ready fo…