Seven lakh children hit by juvenile diabetes – Deccan Chronicle

As the world is observing Diabetes Day on Sunday, it is pertinent to delve deep into the symptoms, treatment and cure of the malady.  Incidentally, this year marks 100 years since the discovery of insulin – a treatment that saved millions of lives around the world. Over seven lakhs children and adolescents suffer from this condition. Sadly, most of the children are dying before or soon after diagnosis. Let us learn more about this dreaded condition in children on the occasion of World Diabetes Day. Type 1 diabetes, once known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin. Insulin is a hormone needed to allow sugar (glucose) to enter cells to produce energy. Different factors, including genetics and some viruses, may contribute to type 1 diabetes. Although type 1 diabetes usually appears during childhood or adolescence, it can develop in adults as well.  Despite active research, type 1 diabetes has no cure. Treatment focuses on managing blood sugar levels with insulin, diet and lifestyle to prevent complications. The exact cause of type 1 diabetes is unknown. Usually, the body’s own immune system – which normally fights harmful bacteria and…
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