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What Is Junior Diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes (also known as junior or juvenile diabetes) is a chronic metabolic disorder that affects more than 2 million people in the United States. It gets its name from the fact that it most often appears suddenly in children and young adults.

  1. Function

    • Type 1 diabetes is a rapidly progressive disorder that leaves the pancreas unable to produce insulin, a hormone needed to convert food into energy for the body. Multiple daily injections of insulin are required, although they are not a cure. A person with type 1 diabetes must also be diligent about checking blood sugar levels daily--too high or too low can be life threatening.

    Identification

    • There are many warning signs of type 1 diabetes, including increased appetite, extreme thirst, vision changes, fruity or sweet odor on breath and heavy, labored breathing. According to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, scientists do not yet know what causes type 1 diabetes.

    Effects

    • Nearly every major organ in the body can be damaged by diabetes. More individuals die annually from diabetes than breast cancer and AIDS combined. It is the sixth leading cause of death by disease in the U.S.

    Misconceptions

    • Although juvenile/junior diabetes is frequently diagnosed in children and young adults, it is possible for a person to develop it at any age.

    Potential

    • Although there is no cure for the disease, significant progress in research has been made toward finding one. According to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, more than $1.3 billion has been awarded for research and education and a cure for type 1 diabetes is not only possible, it's likely.

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