Parents encouraged to learn about diabetes warning signs

/Home/People with Diabetes/Children and Diabetes

Parents encouraged to learn about diabetes warning signs
December 16, 2008
By AVONELLE KIRBY
Times-Herald

Friends and families of type 1 diabetic children recently joined together at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Walk in support of these children and young adults.

After being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes six years ago, Kaylan Kirby of Coweta, and her family and friends have walked faithfully to not only raise money for research, but to raise awareness of this devastating disease.
Arlington Christian School

Type 1 diabetes strikes children suddenly, making them dependent on injected or pumped insulin for life, and carries the constant threat of devastating complications.

While diagnosis most often occurs in childhood and adolescence, in can and does strike adults as well. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. While the causes of this process are not entirely understood, scientists believe that both genetic factors and environmental triggers are involved.

To stay alive, type 1 diabetics must take multiple insulin shots daily or infuse insulin through a pump. They must also test their blood sugar by pricking their fingers for blood six or more times a day.

While trying to balance insulin doses with their food intake and daily activities, people with this form of diabetes must always be prepared for serious hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) or hyperglyemic (high blood sugar) reactions, both of which can be life-limiting and life-threatening. As a result, parents will often not leave type 1 children with people not well-versed in the disease.

Each year, more than 15,000 children are diagnosed with diabetes in the U.S. That's 40 children per day. Fifty-eight of those children are enrolled in the Coweta County School System. Sally Millians, the nurse coordinator for the school system, reports the number increasing each year.

Parents should be aware of the warning signs of type 1 diabetes including: extreme thirst, frequent urination, drowsiness or lethargy, increased appetite, sudden weight loss for no reason, sudden vision changes, sugar in urine, fruity odor on breath, heavy or labored breathing, stupor or unconsciousness. These symptoms may occur suddenly or gradually over time.

JDRF, the worlds leading non-profit and non-governmental funder of diabetes research, was created in 1970 by parents of diabetic children. More than 80 percent of the group's expenditures directly support research and research-related education.

JDRF has received top rankings from the American Institute of Philanthropy, Forbes Magazine and other independent sources that rate charitable giving. JDRF's mission has been constant since the day it was founded: find a cure for diabetes, fast.

To make a tax-deductible donation to JDRF, visit www.jdrfgeorgia.org .