Kids Corner has information as it relates to 14-year olds as well as younger children. So be open when looking at this section because there is something for you if you’re 14 or younger. The Events and Camps section has information for older teenagers as well. And parents, there is a lot in here for you too!
Please note the material contained herein is an example of the thought process behind how to manage blood glucose. This is not necessarily tailored to each individual reading this and it is important to remember every child is different and there are a lot of variables associated with foods and physical activity, all of which affect insulin-to-carbohydrate ratios and blood glucose levels. Use this to enhance your knowledge of diabetes and to help you understand the logic behind your doctor’s recommendations. Always, always, always follow the instructions of your doctor and parents.
Before you dive in to the world of Type 1 diabetes, we want to call your attention to a very special area we have created just for kids. We want to help you have fun and enjoy life, so please be sure to check out the Events and Camps section!
What Is Type 1 (Juvenile-Onset) Diabetes?
Type 1 Diabetes, also called juvenile-onset diabetes happens when your pancreas doesn’t produce insulin anymore. Without insulin, your body can’t get the energy from the foods you eat and blood glucose (BG) levels can quickly go up…and that’s not a good thing! But the good news is that there are a lot of tools and a lot of smart people out there that can help your body work the way it needs to.
Since your body needs insulin and your pancreas can’t produce it anymore, you need to give your body the insulin it needs either with injections or an insulin pump. Don’t worry; it’s not as scary as it sounds!
If you take the time to take good care of your diabetes by watching it closely, and if you eat healthy and exercise, diabetes will not hold you back. You’ll find that by taking care of themselves, Type 1 diabetics can live normal, healthy lives! You may even be surprised to find that a lot of professional athletes are Type 1 diabetics! There are a lot of us out there; we’re a pretty special group!
Key Terms
The following are some key terms that you will hear pretty often when you read or talk about diabetes. Knowing what they mean will help you understand diabetes, how it works, and what is going on inside your body!
- PancreasThe pancreas functions as both a gland and an organ in the body's digestive system. What really matters to you though is that since the pancreas isn’t doing its job fully, you need to give your body a little extra help! The most important thing to know about the pancreas is that it contains beta cells that are the only cells in the body capable of producing insulin. Your pancreas's beta cells aren't able to do that anymore, so you’re going to need to give your body some special attention. And it will be happy! :)
- InsulinInsulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas and it’s kind of a big deal for your body's metabolism. Most types of cells in your body use glucose for energy and the only way they can use it is with the help of insulin. Insulin also allows liver, muscle, and fat tissue cells to take glucose in from the blood and store it as something called glycogen (we'll get to glucose and glycogen in a minute). This keeps blood glucose levels from getting too high and provides a source of energy. You don't want a bunch of extra glucose floating around in your blood because it’s not healthy for you and many of your organs and, as you’re already aware, you won’t have the energy to be a kid!
- GlucoseGlucose is a simple sugar and one of the body's main sources of energy. When you have too much glucose in your blood for too long of a time, this is not a good thing! (You'll sometimes hear people refer to this as hyperglycemia - it just means your blood sugar is too high). When a pancreas is healthy and working like it should, it will release insulin in response to high blood glucose levels (for example, right after you eat). The insulin then causes liver, muscle, and fat tissue cells to take in a bunch of that glucose out there floating around in the blood and either use it to give you the energy to do all of your daily activities or, store it as glycogen. When the pancreas can't produce insulin anymore (as in Type 1 diabetes), this glucose stays in the blood. When your blood has too much glucose day after day, certain parts of your body will have trouble working right and it will hurt them in the long run….and this is not good. You want to stay as healthy as possible for as long as you can. You might also hear people refer to blood glucose levels as blood sugar levels - they mean the same thing.
- GlycogenGlycogen is a secondary source of long-term energy, stored primarily in the liver and muscle. Insulin allows glucose to be stored as glycogen.
- GlucagonGlucagon is another hormone produced in the pancreas and it has the opposite effect of insulin; it raises blood glucose levels by releasing glycogen in the form of glucose. When blood sugar levels fall too low, the pancreas releases glucagon, which tells the liver, “Hey! Let’s get that blood sugar up a tad.” So, you can see, in a properly functioning body, insulin and glucagon work together to keep blood sugar levels in check.
- A1CIt’s not the ABCs…but the A1Cs are just as important! Regular blood sugar tests at home let you know how your BG is doing right now and if you need a candy bar :) or some insulin :( . And then there is an A1C test that is a way for you and your doctor to see how your blood glucose levels are doing over a few months. Your daily blood sugar tests are kind of like quizzes, and your A1Cs are like your big tests…only you don’t have to study! Yay! So, you do your homework (daily testing, taking your insulin, eating right, exercising, etc…the fun stuff), and you will do well on the A1Cs. :)
Use each of the links below to navigate to the area of Type 1 diabetes you are interested in learning more about.
