Diabetes
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Diabetes happens when someone’s body cannot use energy from glucose, which is a type of sugar found in food.
There are two main types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes affecting children and adolescents in Australia. Type 1 diabetes is caused by the body not having enough insulin. Insulin is a hormone which helps glucose go from the body’s blood into the body’s cells. Most cells rely on glucose for their energy to do their jobs. Insulin also controls the level of glucose in blood. Without insulin, glucose levels will build up in the blood. Type 1 diabetes is treated by replacing the insulin.
Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes rarely occurs during childhood and adolescence. Type 2 diabetes is caused by the body being resistant to insulin. Type 2 diabetes is treated with diet, weight loss and oral medications in the majority of cases
What is diabetes
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Diabetes exists when blood glucose builds up to high levels. There is no risk of contracting diabetes from affected individuals.
There are two main types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2.
Type 1 diabetes (insulin-dependent diabetes)
This is the form of diabetes which occurs in childhood. Most secondary schools will have one student with diabetes for each 500, while primary schools will have one per 1200 (approximately). Type 1 diabetes is due to a severe deficiency of insulin and is fatal without life-long insulin injections. It is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s own immune system attacks the pancreas and destroys the insulin-producing cells.
Features include:
- lethargy
- weight loss
- increased urination
- excessive thirst.
Without insulin treatment the disease progresses to a life-threatening condition marked by dehydration and a build-up of acids in the blood (ketoacidosis).
Treatment
Insulin lowers the blood glucose levels and allows a return to good health. Insulin is not a cure–insulin must never be omitted.
The treatment of diabetes depends on:
- two to four injections of insulin daily-the dose is adjusted according to blood glucose tests done several times a day
- a regular pattern of snacks and meals.
The timing of injections and food intake is most important. Carbohydrate foods (bread, fruit, sugar) are essential and raise blood glucose levels, while insulin and exercise lower them. Maintaining a balance so the level of glucose is neither too high nor too low is very important, but difficult to achieve. Exercising muscles use more glucose for energy and hence extra food needs to be eaten with exercise.
Type 2 diabetes (non-insulin-dependent diabetes)
This form of diabetes mainly occurs in adults (usually over 40 years of age, though it is increasingly being seen in adolescents who are markedly overweight). It may be accelerated by lifestyle factors (obesity, little exercise, overeating) and is treated by weight control, sensible eating, exercise, tablets and occasionally insulin injections. However, unlike the childhood form of diabetes, omission of insulin injections will not prove fatal
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Superintendent, ICH.