What is diabetes?
Diabetes Mellitus is not a new disorder. It was described in the medical literature as early as 30 A.D. Diabetes is a Greek word that means “to run through or siphon” and Mellitus is from the Latin word that means “honeyed.” The early healers coined the term Diabetes Mellitus to describe what they actually saw: people with diabetes urinated a lot and their urine was sweet.
What is type 1 diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes occurs when your child’s pancreas can no longer produce insulin. This is caused by autoimmune destruction (your child’s body against itself) of the beta cells, the insulin-producing cells (in the Islets of Langerhans) in the pancreas. The classic symptoms of type 1 diabetes are polyuria (increased urination), polydipsia (increased thirst), and polyphagia (excess eating), which is unusual with the weight loss that is also a common symptom. These symptoms generally occur rather quickly and go away once your child’s diabetes is in control. This type of diabetes can occur at any age, but more often occurs in younger people. Type 1 diabetes used to be called juvenile-onset or Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM) and accounts for about 5%-10% of the overall diabetes population.
Medical Management of Type 1 Diabetes, 4th Edition American Diabetes Association, 2004
What is type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes is caused by the inability of the beta cells in the pancreas (Islets of Langerhans) to produce enough insulin to keep up with the body’s needs. The body also does not use the insulin that is produced very well. The risk factors associated with type 2 diabetes are obesity, family history, lack of activity, and race or ethnicity. Often, symptoms can be absent or can be mild and appear over years before a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes is made. Type 2 diabetes used to be called adult-onset or non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. Type 2 diabetes accounts for about 90%-95% of the overall diabetes population.
Medical Management of Type 2 Diabetes, 5th Edition American Diabetes Association, 2004
What is glucose?
Glucose is the body’s main source of energy. When your child eats and his/her food is digested, the glucose from the carbohydrates travels through the bloodstream to the parts of the body that need it. Insulin is released from the pancreas when the amount of sugar (glucose) in the bloodstream starts to rise. The insulin helps the sugar get into the body cells where it is used for energy.
In people with diabetes, there is either no insulin, not enough insulin or the insulin that is available does not work very well. So, when your child has diabetes, sugar isn’t carried properly to his/her cells, so too much sugar stays in your child’s bloodstream. Hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar, is when the sugar stays in your child’s bloodstream rather than being used for energy inside his/her body cells. Left untreated, high blood sugar can cause harm to your child’s body, so it is important to learn how to keep his/her blood sugar in a healthy range.
To better understand what happens when a child has diabetes, let’s just review a few terms:
What is the Pancreas?
The pancreas is an organ that produces digestive juices for digesting food and hormones for regulating the use of fuels in the body. It is the only organ that makes insulin.
What is Insulin?
A hormone made in the pancreas. Insulin lowers the amount of sugar in the blood by helping the sugar get into the cells for energy.
What is Glucose?
One of the simplest forms of sugar.
What is Carbohydrate?
High energy foods that include sugars and starches.