Diabetes in children and adolescents “World Diabetes Day”

World Diabetes Day. A United Nations resolution began this year to observe November 14 as “World Diabetes Day”. The years 2007 and 2008 are designated for raising awareness of the rising prevalence of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents.

DIABETES in CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS

Insulin is a hormone that converts glucose and other food into energy. People with diabetes do not make or properly use insulin and glucose stays unused in the blood.

Undiagnosed and uncontrolled diabetes in children places them at an early and increased risk for developing serious complications later in life. Some of these complications include heart, vision and kidney diseases.

In type I diabetes (also called juvenile or insulin-dependent diabetes), the immune system destroys the insulin-producing cells of the body and so affected persons require daily injections of insulin for life. It has an acute onset which means that the first appearance signs or symptoms develop in a short period of time. Although type I diabetes can begin at any age, but most often occurs in children and young adults.

Symptoms include increased thirst and urination, constant hunger, weight loss, and blurred vision. Children also may feel very tired. If undiagnosed or untreated, these children can develop life-threatening diabetic coma known as diabetic ketoacidosis or DKA.

Type II diabetes usually occurs gradually over several years and is found to be obesity-related. It used to occur mainly in overweight adults ages 40 and above. But with more children becoming overweight and inactive, more young people have been diagnosed with type II diabetes in recent years.

Symptoms in children may start out similar to those of type I diabetes, but develops more slowly. Other symptoms may include weight loss, blurred vision, frequent infections, and slow healing of wounds or sores.

In observance of November as “American Diabetes Month” and November 14 as “World Diabetes Day“, I would like to point you to some organization, links and blogs that are relevant to CHILDREN AND DIABETES.

World Diabetes Day. A United Nations resolution began this year to observed November 14 as “World Diabetes Day”. The years 2007 and 2008 are designated for raising awareness of the rising prevalence of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents.

The American Diabetes Association is the nation’s leading nonprofit health organization providing diabetes research, information and advocacy.

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) is the Government’s lead agency for diabetes research.

Overview of diabetes in children adolescents. Fact Sheet.

Diabetes Public Health Resource. A Center for Disease Control and Prevention project.

children with diabetes. The online community for kids, families and adults with diabetes.

Diabetes Mine. One of the many blogs on living with diabetes.

Diabetes Notes. b5media blog written by Kendra James, with a professional and personal take on information for managing the disease.

Tags: diabetes, type 1, type 11, juvenile, insulin, research, world diabetes day, American diabetes month, observance, campaign