This booklet gives an overview of type 1 diabetes in children, its causes, diagnosis and treatment.
What is Diabetes?
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- Diabetes is a condition where the cells cannot utilise the sugar in the blood stream.
- When we eat, the sugar (called Glucose) is absorbed into the blood.
- The pancreas has specialised cells that produce a hormone called insulin.
- The insulin acts as a key that opens the door of the cells to allow the glucose to enter.
- Inside the cell, the glucose is broken to provide energy.
- In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas does not produce insulin.
- In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas may produce less insulin than it should, and the cells may not accept the insulin.
- If the cells do not take the glucose, it remains high in the blood stream.
- High glucose in the blood can lead to problems.
- The problems can be slow to affect the organs (like the eyes and kidney) and take years to happen.
- Other problems are an emergency and need to be treated right away.
