Insulin Dependent Diabetes Introduction: The facts you should know

Traditionally considered to be a fairly uncommon illness, Type I diabetes affects nearly one out of every 250 people, both kids and adults, living in the US today. Although "juvenile" has long been the appellation of this type of the disease, as in Type I juvenile onset diabetes, the disease process may actually occur at any age, and appears equally among both boys and girls.

There are thousands things that can go wrong with your body. Consider this short list:

11 beta hydroxylase deficiency - Congenital deafness - Anorchia  - Acne - Deafness hypogonadism syndrome - Cortical degeneration of the cerebellum parenchymatous - Cholestasis, progressive familial intrahepatic

Fortunately, even most doctors have not heard of some of these. But even though it is considered fairly uncommon, you probably know someone with Juvenile Onset Diabetes.

Symptoms

While the signs of Type I diabetes tend to be subtle in most cases, if not treated, they will in time become really severe. Some of the most common symptoms include:

Blurry vision - Frequent urination - Dry mouth, even after drinking - Heavy or labored breathing for no apparent reason - Tingling in the hands or feet - Frequent skin, vaginal, or urinary tract infections - Increased thirst - Nausea

Several serious signs associated with Type I diabetes that demand an urgent need for medical attention include:

Abdominal pain Loss of consciousness, rarely in extreme cases Fruity or sweet smelling breath Rapid breathing and heart rate

Causes

Scientists still aren't aware of all the factors causing one to have Type I diabetes, although they do know that a tendency to the condition may be genetic. Researchers have discovered that this form of diabetes may also be caused by environmental factors that causes the wrong reaction within the body's immune system. However, they are not sure as to the exact origins of these possible triggers.

Diagnosis

For an accurate diagnosis of Type I diabetes, your family doctor must check for abnormally high glucose levels by performing a blood test, or also testing for the presence of sugar in the urine. With today's knowledge, there is no way to test for impending Type I diabetes, or any method to prevent this type of diabetes.

Treatment

There are many people, of all ages, who enjoy long, quite healthy lives despite having Type I diabetes. It's imperative to keep blood sugar levels under tight control, which may be achieved by eating a good diet, exercise, and having insulin therapy on a regular basis. Anyone with this disease is require to have insulin injections in order to properly maintain their glucose level, which will also have to be tested regularly.

Without treatment, Type I diabetes may presage several serious conditions, some of which may be life-threatening. Kidney damage is a fairly frequent problem in those with the disease with a condition known as nephropathy. Other possible complications include retinopathy, which causes a loss of vision, poor blood circulation, nerve damageand instestinal problems which may also result without medical treatment.

Although a serious condition, juvenile onset diabetes is a condition that can still be successfully managed with the right medical care.